Real ID
- Thread starter Sam D
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The last time I renewed my license I ended up with a REAL ID in the mail.
Bunch of BS is what it is. I have to further prove that I’m a US citizen to get on a plane.
We can thank the states that give licenses to anyone.
We can thank the states that give licenses to anyone.
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A "Real ID" doesn't prove you are a US citizen. It just proves you are who you say you are. A passport will work. A US state issued driver's license that qualifies as a real ID just means that in addition to your ability drive, you have established your identity via acceptable documentation. (My wife is Japanese, a permanent resident/green card holder, and has an Oregon "real ID" driver's license.)
There are a lot of people in this world who mean to kill Americans in any way that they can. A passenger plane, as we've learned, is a great way to kill a lot of people. If you definitively know who people are, it is far less likely that a mass murderer is going to get on a plane, whether to use it as a bomb or to get here and develop networks of like-minded mutants on our shores.
It is NOT one world; in many countries where we have people who would kill us, there are few birth records, dates of birth are estimates, names are in 5 parts and often octupules, and there are no biometrics (fingerprints, iris scan, DNA profile, facial recognition photo). Most are one change of planes from a major US destination. In Mogadishu, I could fly to Dubai, Doha, or Istanbul then directly to most major US hubs. Same-same Baghdad, Amman, Georgia, Armenia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mali, and on and on.
Evil flourishes in the dark and in anonymity.
It is NOT one world; in many countries where we have people who would kill us, there are few birth records, dates of birth are estimates, names are in 5 parts and often octupules, and there are no biometrics (fingerprints, iris scan, DNA profile, facial recognition photo). Most are one change of planes from a major US destination. In Mogadishu, I could fly to Dubai, Doha, or Istanbul then directly to most major US hubs. Same-same Baghdad, Amman, Georgia, Armenia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mali, and on and on.
Evil flourishes in the dark and in anonymity.
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When there's millions and millions of illegals in the US, and they came from counties that have few birth records, dates of birth are estimates, names are in 5 parts and often octupules, and there are no biometrics and they are already here, how does anyone know those people are who they say they are? Then, we find out, through DOGE, that the US .gov gave millions social security numbers, have driver's licenses, and even allowed to be in LE. What's the point of "REAL ID"?
It seems some are more equal than others.
It seems some are more equal than others.
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Biometrics, especially fingerprints and iris scans at every point of contact for employment, documents, banking, emergency hospital treatment, driver's licenses for illegals (where those are allowed) provide a starting point for internal identification which is also useful for external identification through a variety of means, including battlefield forensics, human sources, and a host of other international information sources.
DOGE fired nearly the entire field operations staff of the NNSA then had to very quickly find and rehire them - pardon me if I don't rely on them much for complex issues.
DOGE fired nearly the entire field operations staff of the NNSA then had to very quickly find and rehire them - pardon me if I don't rely on them much for complex issues.
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This is correct… as long as you have a valid admission to the US, you can get a Real ID.
I’ve been listening to people complain regularly about Real ID for the past few weeks, and then have to tell them it is only for travel WITHIN the US and entrance to some Federal buildings… not for entry into the US.
But the arguments about it have gone on for the past 2 or so years. Everyone wants to tell us that the logo on their license means it is an enhanced license. Nope… only 5 states have them, and I’d see MRZ lines on the back of it. We had a guy from a less busy port send us an email telling us about Real ID… we all looked at one another shocked that he felt we didn’t know anything about the program. Unfortunately, there are people who don’t take the time to understand changes in policy, inside and outside of the government.
Personally, I wish the enhanced license program was funded to the states for implementation… then have Real ID as the default with non-Real ID for cases that don’t fit into the other two. That way people could get a WHTI document easier for travel instead of just arguing about what the little gold star on their license means.
I get asked about upgrading to Real ID each time I renew my license. And I tell them no, each time. It’s only $25 more which I waste that much without hesitation elsewhere, but I already have multiple documents that work (and to be fair, I fly armed when I fly… so it really isn’t that big of a concern for me).
I actually had words with the supervisor at the BMV the last time I went, because the guy behind the counter told me I needed to get a Real ID to come back into the US. I told her that they really need to start understanding the program instead of giving bad information that gets people pissed when me and my coworkers send them inside to confirm their citizenship.
But this is the same location that demanded from a coworker who was born in Puerto Rico that he needed to show his naturalization paperwork. Had his passport on him, and they gave him grief about getting it illegally. Have to love northern ME…
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My Navy retired ID is as good as it gets I believe.
HardToHandle
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Congress passed the law in 2005. That was three years before we had iPhones. Taylor Swift was in high school. Pope John Paul II Passed.
Any American citizen has had 20 years to comply or either persuade their Congressperson to the alter the law. Failing that, 20 years of deferring enforcing the federal law seems sufficient.
TSA won't accept it if it says "INDEF" on it.
Really? And why is that?
JET4
Member
I will use my TWIC card/badge to fly if I need to.
Originally Posted by vt_shooter View Post
TSA won't accept it if it says "INDEF" on it.
Got my answer: it’s a software issue, the TSA software cannot read INDEF - an alpha in a numeric field. They are working on a fix.
‘Indefinite’ Defense Department IDs Inconvenience Air Travelers, May Be Dropped as Acceptable Identification | Military.com
TSA won't accept it if it says "INDEF" on it.
Got my answer: it’s a software issue, the TSA software cannot read INDEF - an alpha in a numeric field. They are working on a fix.
‘Indefinite’ Defense Department IDs Inconvenience Air Travelers, May Be Dropped as Acceptable Identification | Military.com
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I’ve had mine for 10 years. How many times have they extended the deadline? lol
robvious
Member
backwards fly over Nebraska adopted it in 2013... so shame on the rest of you states...
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I don't think it is a state issue per se. People have to apply for it. For example, my wife's had a real ID DL since 2008 or so when she was issued her first US DL from Hawaii. She applied for it. I already a Hi DL, so when renewals came up, I just renewed in the old format.
Hawaii must have changed that, though, as I recall a friend in Hawaii telling me his 80 YO mom, born in Hawaii, had to come up with a birth certificate to renew. I think at that point HI DL renewals must have required conversion to a real ID.
When I got to Oregon in 2016, I turned in my non-real ID Hawaii DL, took a written exam and an eye test, and they gave me a non real ID Oregon DL. My wife didn't get around to applying for her Oregon DL until a couple of years later, and they swapped hers, along with an eye test and written exam, for an Oregon real ID DL.
In 2021 (?), renewing my Oregon DL, I took along my passport, paid a bit extra, and got an Oregon real ID DL.
By the way, what is this "enhanced DL" i see referred to above?
Hawaii must have changed that, though, as I recall a friend in Hawaii telling me his 80 YO mom, born in Hawaii, had to come up with a birth certificate to renew. I think at that point HI DL renewals must have required conversion to a real ID.
When I got to Oregon in 2016, I turned in my non-real ID Hawaii DL, took a written exam and an eye test, and they gave me a non real ID Oregon DL. My wife didn't get around to applying for her Oregon DL until a couple of years later, and they swapped hers, along with an eye test and written exam, for an Oregon real ID DL.
In 2021 (?), renewing my Oregon DL, I took along my passport, paid a bit extra, and got an Oregon real ID DL.
By the way, what is this "enhanced DL" i see referred to above?
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Enhanced Drivers Licenses: What Are They? | Homeland Security
Returning to the US last year from Italy, the CBP agent suggested it would be easier to go through the much shorter line when going through customs.
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