OKLAHOMA CITY – As an update to information it provided last month, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) continues to announce new developments regarding the REAL ID Act passed by Congress in 2005.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advised DPS on October 9, 2015 that, in its effort to work with states in meeting the requirements of the REAL ID Act, there is an extensive grace period following October 10, 2015 to make sure that a state is getting full credit for its activities. DHS will allow for a three-month grace period before the expiration of current extensions become effective. During this period, federal agencies may continue to accept driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by states whose extension has expired.
What this means for Oklahomans is that starting October 10, 2015, they will be able to use their Oklahoma-issued driver license or identification card to access military bases and almost all federal facilities. Despite this assurance from DHS, however, DPS strongly encourages Oklahomans to first contact any federal facility or military base before visiting to determine what identification will be accepted.
According to DHS, this update “does not affect identification shown at airports in the United States. Until announced otherwise, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will continue to accept valid driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by all states. DHS plans to announce the schedule for any changes to air travel requirements by the end of the year, and will ensure that state governments and the traveling public are notified at least 120 days in advance of implementation.”
DPS continues to work with DHS to ensure that Oklahoma-issued driver licenses and identification cards remain acceptable forms of identification for purposes of the REAL ID Act for as long as possible. Meanwhile, DPS continues to partner with the Governor’s office and Oklahoma’s state and federal legislators in an effort to achieve a solution to REAL ID compliance.
For more information on REAL ID, visit http://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief.
A list of Oklahoma FAQs will be available on the DPS website (www.dps.state.ok.us) on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.
