NEW YORK STATE DMV ANNOUNCES ONE-YEAR REAL ID EXTENSION

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recently announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted New York State a one-year REAL ID extension.

During this extension period, any New Yorker with a standard driver license or non-driver ID will be able to board an airplane or enter a federal building without secondary identification.

“This extension guarantees that New Yorkers will be able to use their driver licenses or ID cards as they did before,” said DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan. “DMV continues to work with DHS to ensure all New York State licenses and non-driver IDs remain acceptable for REAL ID purposes.”

The REAL ID Act is a federal law passed by Congress after 9/11 that establishes specific federal requirements for state-issued driver licenses and identity cards in order to prevent terrorists from evading detection by using fraudulent identification. The law prohibits the use of a driver license or identification card that does not meet the federal requirements to access certain federal facilities and, eventually, at airports.

New York State does offer an “enhanced driver’s license,” (EDL) which complies with the federal rules.

Also, DHS says individuals in non-compliant states may present alternative forms of identification such as a U.S. Passport or birth certificate, to get through airport screenings.

There was a bill introduced to the New York Senate, Senate Bill 5842, which directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to re-issue drivers licenses which are compliant with the federal REAL ID act, to all eligible New Yorkers, at no additional cost. But it has yet to be passed.