Real ID Enforcement Date less than 3 months away

The REAL ID enforcement date is approaching, and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles urges residents to get one if you have not. Because after May 7th, federal agencies, including the TSA, will only accept driver’s licenses and ID cards that are REAL ID. OMV spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says visit expresslane.org for a checklist on what you’ll need to get a REAL ID.

“For most people that’s either a passport or birth certificate and two pieces of mail at your current address,” Boudreaux said.

Boudreaux says they expect an influx of residents making an effort to get a REAL ID as we approach the May 7^th enforcement date, so don’t wait until the last minute.

“Louisiana is behind the curve in compliance rates and we expect our field offices and our partnering Public Tag Agents to see an influx of residents as we approach the May 7 enforcement date,” said OMV Commissioner Dan Casey.

A Louisiana REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card will display a gold circle with a star cutout in the top right corner.

Licenses and identification cards that do not meet REAL ID standards will not be accepted for use as identification with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airport security checkpoints. A valid passport or another acceptable form of federal identification will be accepted to board domestic flights, access certain federal buildings, military bases and enter nuclear power plants.

TSA accepts mobile driver’s licenses and identification cards in LA Wallet at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and many other participating airports across the United States. REAL ID-compliant credentials are required to utilize LA Wallet on TSA equipment at MSY.

“If you have a REAL ID in your wallet, your real ID on LA Wallet is going to appear there, it’s going to have that gold circle with that white star,” Boudreaux said.

Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission.