In order to board domestic flights in the US, anyone 18 or older will need a Real ID beginning May 7. For high schoolers, specifically seniors, this deadline may come up faster than expected. This could complicate summer vacation plans, potentially making it difficult to travel during the summer.
A Real ID includes a state-issued driver’s license, permit or identification card with increased federal security, allowing it to be used as a federally-accepted form of identification. It’s most commonly used for boarding domestic flights and entering certain federal buildings, such as military bases or nuclear plants. These cards are marked with a star in the upper right corner in order to differentiate them from other IDs.
The Real ID Act was passed in 2005 as a response to the events of 9/11, but it hasn’t been required previously. Some states initially opposed the Real ID requirements, but now all states are compliant or will be with an extension.
With the May 7 deadline approaching, some people may think that they won’t be able to get it in time. However, it may not take as long as you might think. Once you go to your DMV appointment to get a Real ID, you’ll get a paper copy until your official one arrives about 20 days later. The process is relatively simple.
“Getting the Real ID wasn’t really that hard. My mom said I would need it soon to travel out of the country. All I had to do was schedule an appointment, and then at the DMV, update my bio and take a photo,” said Aaron Chu, a TuHS junior.
Real ID aims to increase federal security; however, there are some concerns about its impact on privacy and the potential for bureaucratic issues. It consolidates Americans’ personal information into a network of databases accessible to the government, which could invite snooping and make the U.S. an easy target for identity thieves. Real IDs also have an unencrypted zone readable by machines that contains personal information. This information could easily be stolen by a barcode scanner.
“I think that Real ID can be very beneficial for increasing security and with the identification process. But I do think that it does raise some concerns for your privacy and also with government overreach. The Real ID system could raise some concern for database misuse, as well,” said Gavin Smith, a TuHS junior.
