Oklahoma gets a one-year REAL ID extension after saying compliance will take two years

Oklahoma has received another extension for compliance with the REAL ID Act. [Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman Archives]

Oklahoma has received another extension for compliance with the REAL ID Act, months after its public safety commissioner said it will take two years to come into compliance.

The Department of Homeland Security granted a one-year extension this week, giving the state until Oct. 10, 2018, to create driver's licenses that meet a host of federal-mandated security features aimed at preventing counterfeits.

This spring, the Legislature passed and Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill to bring Oklahoma within compliance after more than a decade of delays. Opponents feared unforeseen ramifications of giving the federal government personal information about state residents.

After Oklahoma received an extension in June, Public Safety Commissioner Michael Thompson said it could be two years before the state can produce a compliant card.