The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said 81 percent of air travelers already present forms of identification that comply with Real ID requirements, which went into effect Wednesday.
A TSA spokesperson said the agency started “full enforcement of the REAL ID law” Wednesday, noting those who present noncompliant IDs will “receive a warning” and “may be directed to a separate area” to undergo additional screening.
But the spokesperson also stressed the agency’s commitment to minimizing travel delays, saying, the “TSA is planning accordingly to ensure no impact to wait times or TSA screening operations.”
“The good news is that 81 [percent] of passengers already use their REAL ID or other acceptable forms so we do not expect there to be any inconveniences or wait times at all,” the spokesperson said.
“TSA will enforce REAL ID in a manner that minimizes the impact to overall operations and especially for those passengers who are prepared with their REAL ID, passport or other acceptable form of ID,” the spokesperson continued.
The sentiment echoes testimony Tuesday from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said people who don’t have Real IDs or acceptable alternatives will still be allowed to fly but might need to undergo additional steps.
“What will happen tomorrow is folks will come through the line, and [they] will issue their ID and show it. If it’s not compliant, they may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step, but people will be allowed to fly,” Noem told lawmakers Tuesday.
Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 in an effort to improve national security following recommendations from the 9/11 Commission.
The law sought to set federal standards for state-issued driver’s licenses, including by requiring states to check for key identification material, including birth certificates, immigration status and Social Security numbers, before issuing identification cards.
Passengers will need to present their Real IDs to board domestic flights now that the law has been implemented, though passports and certain other forms of identification will still be accepted.
The full enforcement date had been pushed back several times since the law was first passed but finally took effect May 7.
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