It may become more difficult to fly out of Missouri if Missouri legislators can’t get their act together over identification for residents that meets federal requirements.
Any time you fly, or go into a federal facility like a courthouse or a military base, you use an ID, usually a driver’s license or state-issued card.
The Missouri Department of Revenue says it has asked for an extension to comply with the Real ID Act.
The delay is over privacy concerns. To aswuage those concerned, lawmakers have agreed to keep birth certificates and social security records offline.
“We’re making that it is as secure as possible to guard against hacking,” says Rep. Kevin Corlew (R-Kansas City).
The current extension ends Oct. 10. Driver’s licenses from Missouri and other non-compliant states will no longer be accepted as identification at airports.
Department of Revenue officials said they are confident they will get another extension.
Officials added that they expect the state to be compliant with the Real ID Act in March 2019.
The new ID cards would put Missouri in compliance with rules passed more than a decade ago.
“It would be a real hassle to have to pull out your passport to fly to Minneapolis or somewhere,” said Corlew.
Last year, Corlew wrote the law that allows Missouri to issue new, more secure, REAL IDs.
Federal lawmakers passed that mandate back in 2005. But Missouri thinks it will need until March of 2019 to be compliant. And they’re asking for more time.
“We knew that when we kicked the can down the road several years, that when we did come into compliance, it was going to take some time to implement,” said Corlew.
If Missouri doesn’t get an extension past that October 10 deadline, you’ll have to go to the post office to get a passport. But, the problem is that process can take months, unless you’re willing to pay the extra money to get it done faster.
A post office spokesperson says they’ve seen a big jump in applications.
“We’re comfortable that we’ve done the steps that we need to,” said Corlew.
“Until homeland security actually gives us the thumbs up, it’s hard to say 100 percent,” Corlew said.
Kansas has been compliant for a year, but not all Kansans have a REAL ID. If you live in Kansas and have a star on your license, then it’s fine. But if it says “NOT FOR FEDERAL ID” then you’re not.
Missourians will have the opportunity to opt out of the program once it begins.
