Hey New Yorkers, you won’t need your passport to hop on a domestic flight just yet. Get the details!



According to the DMV, New York State has received a one year extension to comply with the federal security requirements for driver’s licenses. The security requirements are part of the federal Real ID law, which passed back in 2005. This legislation established minimum standards for licenses and state-issued IDs to be able to use during air travel and to enter federal buildings.

New York is one of four states, including New Hampshire, Minnesota and Louisiana whose licenses do not meet the federal standards. Without the extension, New Yorkers without an enhanced driver’s license would have to bring secondary identification documents such as a passport to board a plane starting in January.

With the extension, the state will have until at least October of 2016, although the government hasn’t announced the exact date the requirement for flights will go into effect.

While the extension grants us a temporary reprieve, will there be enough time for the state to adopt the Real ID standards? Or will the solution be that all NY travelers need to spend the extra $30 for the enhanced drivers license (EDL)? This license currently allows for land and sea travel (but not air) to Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries, and meets the Real ID standards.

So what do you think NY travelers? Will you be updating your license and/or passport ahead of time or biding your time to see how NY incorporates Real ID standards into all licenses, not just the enhanced?

Source:

WGRZ