The REAL ID Act requires all state-issued identification documents to meet a set of security standards. Any IDs that do not meet these security standards won’t be accepted for federal purposes, including as ID for boarding domestic flights.

Nicknamed the new “national ID,” the REAL ID Act gained traction after events such as the Boston Marathon bombings.

The Act came into existence after 9/11 when the federal government started to look at ways to increase security surrounding identification in order to prevent future terrorism and unlawful entry in and out of the country.

The House of Representatives passed the bill into a law in 2005 and called it the REAL ID Act.

The Act would set federal standards for all driver’s licenses, which were being regulated by each individual state.

Many state governments were apprehensive to support the act. They felt that it interfered with the rights handed to them by the 10th amendment and created an unnecessary cost to taxpayers to implement the change. During 2017 the federal governments announced that all states would need to be in compliance with the Act by the end of 2017.

The minimum requirements on the documents include: full legal name, date of birth, gender, driver’s license or identification card number, a digital photograph, address of principal residence and signature.

The identification must also include a common barcode and physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes along with a star in the upper right-hand corner.

This signifies that it has been approved by TSA and your identity has been verified.

Each of these requirements are in attempt to help make our country safer and although many states have complied, there are a few who haven’t and are requiring an extension.

Some of these states include Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Virginia, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, and California.

Not only do identification documents need to meet a set of security standards, there are much stricter measures how people can obtain a driver’s license along with the information on them.

When applicants are trying to obtain an ID or license they must present a photo ID, valid birth certificate and social security.

All of these requirements are in an effort to protect our country and keep it safe.

It’s very important for people living in the state of Maryland to check their license and whether it has a crab on it or the Maryland flag.