by Mike Moen
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Minnesota News Connection) – Time is winding down for Minnesotans to upgrade their driver’s license, with new federal rules soon to kick in for what’s known as “REAL ID.”
On May 7, federal officials will begin enforcing the REAL ID Act, adopted two decades ago in the wake of 9/11. The idea was to enhance the screening of phony identification cards but there have been repeated delays with the rollout. Now, state and federal agencies are reminding people to act.
Jody-Kay Peterson, director of driver services programs for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said they understand this is something many people might have pushed to the back of their minds. But for those 18 and older who will soon need a REAL ID, the waiting period is over.
“For those who have been holding off for a while, it is really happening,” Peterson emphasized. “For you to get on a plane throughout the U.S., you will need to have a REAL ID-compliant document.”
Other documents like a passport are acceptable but a standard driver’s license alone will not get you through airport security. A REAL ID also is needed for visiting someone at a federal prison or a military site. The department said if such situations are not on your horizon, there’s no need to rush before May 7, given the expected crunch of applicants.
You must complete the application process in person at a designated location but you can begin the paperwork online. While making the upgrade might seem like a headache, Peterson noted there is a level of convenience with REAL ID.
“The benefit of having a REAL ID driver’s license or ID card, it’s smaller, it’s easier to carry around,” Peterson pointed out. “A passport, it’s a bigger document.”
The bigger document can make it easier to lose. Given the current application demand, the department said the average wait time to receive your REAL ID is 43 days. When you apply, you will need to bring certain documents, including one to proves your full name, date of birth and legal presence in the U.S. Also needed are two different documents showing your current Minnesota address, like a utility bill. Having your Social Security number memorized is another request.
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