Pennsylvania residents will soon need a REAL ID to get on board a flight to travel or enter a secure federal building.
The state’s REAL ID-compliant driver’s license and identification cards take effect May 3, 2023, according to a May 2 Transportation Security Administration news release. The REAL IDs have a star in a gold circle in the upper right hand corner. This shows that the individual who is carrying the ID has met new federal regulation security standards.
“The REAL ID law is for all Americans who want to fly out of any domestic airport across the country starting one year from now,” TSA Federal Security Director Gerardo Spero said, according to the release. “My advice is to go to your local state’s department of motor vehicles or department of transportation to get your upgraded REAL ID driver’s license now. Don’t wait.”
The release states Pennsylvania residents may upgrade to a REAL-ID compliant driver’s license or choose to stay with a standard driver’s license. The latter option prevents them from boarding a flight and accessing certain federal buildings after the new ID goes into effect.
“We see plenty of travelers who reside in neighboring Delaware and New Jersey who fly out of Philadelphia International Airport regularly, and like all travelers from out of state who want to fly after May 3, 2023, they will also need to have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or acceptable form of ID when they approach our TSA travel document podium,” Spero said, according to the release.
To get a REAL ID license, residents will need to visit the nearest Pennsylvania Department of Transportation office and bring required documentation, according to the release.
“Although a year seems a long time to get ready, the deadline will be upon us before you know it,” PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Melissa Matula said, according to the release. “We continue to focus on providing the best possible customer service to all of our customers as the deadline approaches.”
According to the release, acceptable documentation include “one proof of legal identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Pennsylvania residency, one proof of your social security number (if you’ve been issued one) and a current driver’s license if you are applying to exchange one issued by another U.S. state.”
According to the release, the idea of the ID is to prevent a terrorist from using fraudulent IDs.
