TULSA, Okla. — The deadline for Oklahomans to obtain a Real ID is less than a month away.
After May 7, nobody can’t access military bases or certain federal facilities, or board a domestic flight without one.
It's part of a nationwide initiative to enhance security by ensuring a consistent level of protection across the country. To get a Real ID, you can visit any DMV.
2 News Oklahoma’s Douglas Braff listened to Oklahomans about making the switch and looked at the history of delays.
In response to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005, requiring that states implement stronger security standards for obtaining driver’s licenses and ID cards.
A document is a Real ID when it has an encircled star on it.
Oklahoma, along with some other states, have been slower to adopt Real ID
Dan Shmukler was flying out of Tulsa International Airport on Tuesday and he told 2 News he did not have one yet, saying, “My state [New Jersey] kept putting off the deadline to get it by and I kept forgetting. Now I'm scrambling to find an appointment to get it.”
The federal government delayed the implementation deadline multiple times, most recently citing state DMVs needed more time to comb through the backlog of applications caused by the pandemic.
After May 7, those who want to board a domestic flight, enter a military base, certain secure federal facilities, or nuclear plants will need a Real ID
Two men we ran into at the airport, Daryl Woodard and Jim, told us they got theirs when renewing their driver’s licenses recently, saying it was an easy process.
As for those who said no, they usually told us they have no need for one because they simply don’t fly.
But some don’t have a Real ID because they refuse to get one, like Joshua Lee.
Lee told 2 News he has no plan to get one because “I think it's a bit of government overreach, and I believe it's a violation of our civil rights.”
But he has an interesting workaround, saying he was already planning to get his pilot’s license and fly himself to places.
So far, Service Oklahoma says over 2.1 million Oklahomans have obtained Real ID’s.
To accommodate more appointments ahead of the deadline, they’ve extended their hours at certain locations.
We also ran into Shon Whitten at the Tulsa River Parks; he says he got his in July of last year.
When asked if he thought people should get Real ID’s, Whitten replied, “Probably so, with the deadlines. I don't like lines at the airport. I do not want to think about what they're gonna go through at the airports if they don't have it.”
When obtaining your Real ID, make sure you bring:
- Proof of ID — birth certificate or passport
- Proof of Social Security number — a work W2 or Social Security card
- Proof of Oklahoma residency — a utility bill or a lease agreement
Service Oklahoma is launching Real ID Mondays and Wednesdays.
On those days, you can get a Read ID after regular hours. It's by appointment only from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
To schedule an appointment, click here.
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