Despite Oklahoma drivers’ licenses not being Real ID compliant, the Transportation Security Administration will continue to accept them as sufficient identifications to board domestic flights – at least for another couple of years.
A TSA spokesperson told The Oklahoman the agency will continue to accept the licenses through the compliance deadline in the middle of January 2018, although the state could see an extension through October of 2020.
Real ID regulations were created in response to the terrorist attacks in September of 2001, and so far only 22 states and Washington D.C. are in compliance with all of the enhanced security requirements. Real ID compliant licenses will be required to get on domestic flights as well as enter federal buildings and military bases in the coming years.
Oklahoma lawmakers failed to pass a bill by Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, during this year’s legislative session. It aimed to set up new data management centers that would make compliant identifications, and Oklahomans would have the choice to upgrade their license or keep their old one. The bill passed the Senate but was never brought up in the House.
Holt said this solution satisfied the need to comply with federal regulations and addressed privacy concerns because it left the decision in the hands of individual residents. However, Oklahoma House members weren’t interested in passing the Senate bill and after the enacting clause was struck, the measure died.
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