I had some issues this summer at my military training, because PA driver’s licenses are no longer acceptable forms of identification. Especially because it is now a legal issue that Governor Wolf has taken action on, I wanted to do a little more research to learn about federally compliant IDs and how they affect those who hold PA driver’s licenses.
In 2005, in response the 9/11 Terror Attacks, Congress passed the REAL ID Act, which intended to increase security levels of different forms of identification. It strengthened the process to obtain driver’s licenses and state ID’s, in order for them to be accepted at federal facilities and airports.
In response to this, on May 26, 2017, Governor Wolf signed SB 133 (Act 3 of 2017) which will change the standards of PA driver’s licenses so that they comply with federal regulations of the REAL ID Act.
However, if you use a Pennsylvania Driver’s License or state ID as your primary form of identification, it is only valid at airports and federal facilities until October 10, 2017. After that date, PennDOT will apply for another extension for PA ID holders, but it is recommended to bring a passport if you will be traveling with a Pennsylvania ID after that date.
REAL ID compliment ID’s will be issued in Pennsylvania in 2019, but no resident will be required to switch ID’s in 2019. The only reason a resident would need to switch is if they plan on using their Pennsylvania IDs at airports or federal facilities. Otherwise, they can renew their ID as normal.
Hopefully, this is reassuring news for anyone who holds a Pennsylvania ID! It sounds like residents have a little bit of leeway before the ID’s are not accepted at all.
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