During Signing Appointments many signers ask for my opinion of the REAL ID.
Of course, I don’t offer an opinion or express any preference either way . . .
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Just came across some very interesting information about the REAL ID:
A clearly cogent point:
“Fully imposed, it will be digitized, potentially put on your phone, made real-time and remotely accessible, and used to track and control movement, purchases, and transactions AAMVA Testimony”
Interesting. Currently, struggling to get Enhanced Drivers License appointment in WA. I do have US Passport and will use that for now. Traveling end of August and WA DOL appointments out until September. Since I’m over 75 WA DOL will have new rules for people 65+ driving. Might have to get me an electric tricycle
Never heard of real ID. The enhanced ID I haven’t gotten yet but my current drivers license expires in October so I probably will get one if it’s not more expensive.
Federal Law was enacted over 20 years ago during the George W. Bush era in response to the 911 attacks. It established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses & identification cards with a phased-in compliance period.
In general, a federally accepted ID is required to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.
A federally accepted ID includes the following:
REAL ID - compliant driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
I was looking for info about enhanced ID and it appears WA is unique. If I read correctly, WA only offers a standard ID or DL that doesn’t meet the REALID requirements, and the Enhanced ID or DL, which is more stringent than REALID because it requires the holder to be a US Citizen.
This means that a lawful permanent resident or person on a student visa, living in Washington, would not be able to get a DL or ID from Washington DOL that would let the person get on a commercial flight. That person would be able to fly using their green card or foreign passport.
I think my state, VT, is more typical of the states that offer enhanced DL or ID. One can get, from the DMV, a driving privilege card (not REALID), a non-REALID ID, a REALID DL or ID, or an enhanced DL or ID.
Washington has the enhanced ID because this was a state that allowed illegal immigrants to get drivers licenses with limited requirements for ID. It’s sort of strange. Back in the 70’s when I grew up here immigrants would drive without licenses because they didn’t have necessary paperwork to get a drivers license then the state decided because of car insurance costs blah blah they’d make it easier for immigrants to get drivers licenses. The enhanced license requirement was in response to the Federal requirement and this was a state that was called out for using limited security checks when issuing ID and the flying thing for folks without legal status - the Patriot Act put a kabosh on that. So I have been flying with a passport for a long time. I’ll get a new DL in October and get the enhanced then. I get asked in signing if the unenhanced is okay for ID.
“A single bureaucrat in D.C. can expand required uses (e.g. buy guns, access medical care, vote, buy a car, get a credit card). Only 5 states forbid standard DLs/IDs: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and Wyoming. Switching back to a standard driver’s license protects freedom by stopping the unlawful NATIONAL ID system. Find more info and answers at www.RefuseRealID.org.”
This is a direct url link to the Switch Back to Freedom PDF document with additional details where the above excerpt was accessed.
NOTE: Of course, the above DOESN’T apply to the following states (as the REAL IDs are mandated & offer no REAL ID Alternatives):
When Vermont started offering the driver privilege card (not REALID) (and non-REALID non-driver ID card) the media was saying so the state could keep track of traffic tickets issued to foreign persons who lacked sufficient credentials to get REALID, and so they could get auto insurance so that when they smashed into the car of someone here lawfully, there would be a way to pay for the damage. But as a notary and charity volunteer who’s checked a lot of IDs, I’ve found that most people with driver privilege cards were obviously Vermonters who’s families had been here for generations. I accepted these cards as IDs for notarizations, and as proof of eligibility for gift cards from the charity.
I don’t know why so many US citizens living all their lives in Vermont couldn’t come up with credentials to get a REALID; it wasn’t my place to ask. Wild guess: they just aren’t very organized, and couldn’t manage to visit the town hall to get a birth certificate, then visit Social Security to replace their lost Social Security card, before they went to renew their driver license.
Yeah finally got my appointment for Enhanced Drivers License on July 17th. Checked daily on WA DOL site for appointment availability and guess someone canceled an appointment other wise current WA appointments are out to October. This will probably be last drivers license I get. My next vehicle is electric trike.
By the way, that’s AWESOME that you live in a region that you would only need an electric trike for transportation. They’ve changed a lot over the past several years!
This topic belongs on Twitter (now X), Truth Social and those websites, not here. Conspiracy theories have nothing to do with being a Notary. Whatever drivers license is issued or accepted by my state is going to be acceptable to me, whether Real ID or not.
Congratulations! 