US air passengers without a REAL ID will have to pay a US$45 fee starting in February, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on Monday.
The updated identification document has been mandatory since May, but until then passengers without it could pass through security with an additional inspection and a warning. The Department of Homeland Security states that 94% of passengers are already compliant and that the new fee aims to encourage travelers to obtain the document.
The REAL ID is a driver’s license or state-issued identification document that complies with federal laws and meets the enhanced requirements imposed after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Obtaining the document — indicated by a white star in a yellow circle in most states — means bringing more documents to the motor vehicle department than most states require for standard identification documents. Implementation was scheduled for 2008 but has been repeatedly delayed.
Starting February 1st, travelers aged 18 or older flying domestically in the United States without a REAL ID and who do not possess another accepted form of identification, such as a passport, will have to pay a non-refundable fee to verify their identity through the TSA’s alternative “Confirm.ID” system.
TSA authorities reported that paying the fee does not guarantee verification and that travelers whose identities cannot be verified may be prevented from boarding. If approved, the verification will be valid for a 10-day travel period.
The fee can be paid online before arriving at the airport. Travelers can also pay online at the airport before going through security, but authorities said the process could take up to 30 minutes.
The TSA initially proposed a US$18 fee for passengers without REAL ID, but authorities announced on Monday that they increased the amount after realizing the alternative identification program would cost more than expected.
Other accepted forms of identification include military identification cards, permanent resident cards, and photo identification cards from federally recognized tribal nations. The TSA also accepts digital identification documents through platforms like Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet at more than 250 US airports.
Source: npr.org