May deadline for REAL ID in KY unlikely to change. How to prep for TSA screening
The May 7 deadline for airport travelers to obtain a REAL ID appears unlikely to change despite efforts from Kentucky lawmakers.
Kentucky Sen. Jimmy Higdon, chairman of the state Senate Transportation Committee, sent a letter last week to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security asking for an extension of the deadline, and 27 other Kentucky leaders signed the letter.
But President Donald Trump said Sunday there would be no extension, and at a news conference in Lexington Tuesday morning, Transportation Security Administration officials said they did not expect any major problems with enforcement of REAL IDs beginning next month.
“If you’re flying May 7 or beyond, you’re going to need to have a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of ID when you come to the security checkpoint,” Mark Howell, regional spokesperson for TSA, said at a news conference at Blue Grass Airport. “If you do not have one, you’re going to see some additional screening, some delays.”
Nationwide requirements for REAL IDs have been postponed several times since their initial deadline in 2008. The new IDs, adopted as part of post-9/11 security measures, require additional paperwork, and they are marked with a white star in a black circle.
Flight passengers who don’t have a REAL ID will need additional documentation, such as a passport, or they should get to the airport about an hour early for additional screening, Howell said.
Limited appointment availability and long wait times have hindered Kentuckians who try to update their driver’s licenses to a REAL ID recently. The Kentucky Driver Licensing Regional Office said 36.6% of Kentucky credential holders had a REAL ID as of Tuesday.
“For those folks who aren’t ready by the enforcement date, you may want to build in that additional time ahead of time to make sure you don’t get stuck and aren’t able to fly,” Howell said.
About 81% of the traveling public nationwide has a REAL ID, according to Howell. The IDs have several security features that make them almost impossible to replicate, like holographs and see-through photos.
“That’s why we got it in place. That’s the reason we’re doing it, is to make sure that the person that has the ID is supposed to have the ID,” Howell said.
TSA security checkpoints are starting to feature increased technology to help with the screening process. Howell said the advancement to REAL IDs is matching up with the technology.
“Having IDs with a raised baseline for security just fits into the overall framework with what we’re trying to do with airport and airline security across the country,” Howell said.
TSA expecting major traffic at KY airports this weekend
Conveniently for TSA, the May 7 enforcement date comes after what could be the busiest weekend of the year for Kentucky airports.
Multiple events converge in Kentucky this weekend, most notably the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby in Louisville. The Flying Pig Marathon is also in Cincinnati Sunday.
Howell said Sunday and Monday will likely be the busiest days for Kentucky airports.
People are encouraged to arrive at the airport two hours before their scheduled departure.
“We will see some wait times,” Howell said. “I’ll set the expectations now that for the Kentucky Derby, we will see some wait times during periods, because we have a lot of volume that’s coming through.”
