Editorial: Is it finally time for Real ID?
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The federal government has threatened it before.
It has dangled the string and tried to make us jump. It has coyly set deadlines only to pull back at the last minute. It’s happening! It is! Ha, ha, no, it’s not.
No, this is not about the tariffs with Canada and Mexico.
It’s the ongoing game of “Red Light, Green Light” that has been being played with the states — and the people — for 20 years: Real ID
Twenty years? That can’t be right, can it?
It can. The Real ID Act was passed in 2005. It is older than YouTube and the iPhone. How many cellphones have you had since 2005?
After years of arguing back and forth between states and the federal government and challenges in moving forward and shifting deadlines, things are now on track for Real ID to be implemented May 7. That is four days short of the 20th anniversary of the act being signed into law.
So why do you need it?
It is an identification with a higher level of verification than a simple driver’s license. Unlike a passport — the gold standard in identification for Americans — it can be secured at Pennsylvania driver’s license centers. It requires additional documents to confirm identity.
As of May, you will need a higher level of ID to access federal buildings or to fly on commercial planes.
It costs an extra $30, which is cheaper than $165 for a passport. However, a passport is good for 10 years. A Real ID has to be renewed every four. It’s still cheaper but requires more effort more often.
Do you need it? Depends on whether you travel or plan to do so — and whether you need to go to a federal building. The problem there is that sometimes you don’t know if you need to go to a federal building.
Is it a good idea? Probably. Is it a pain to jump through the hoops? Certainly. Is it ridiculous to expect Americans to pay even more money to identify themselves as Americans to access their own government buildings? Yes — but this is a level of safety we embraced in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
If you have a passport, it’s not necessary. If you don’t want to carry your passport around, however, you might want it. And if your passport will need to be renewed soon, it’s worth considering as federal offices are experiencing shake-ups. Passports take weeks, sometimes months, to process. If you have your documents in order, a Real ID can be much faster.
It is smart to prepare for the implementation of Real ID. You won’t be sorry to have it. There is no downside with being ready.
But will it be surprising if this game plays out the way it has for years and another delay happens as May appears on the horizon? Not really.