PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — If you still need to get a REAL ID, expect a lot of people lined up with you at the PennDOT Driver License Center as the May 7 deadline approaches.
“There’s a lot of procrastinators out there, and our Driver License Centers now have real serious issues with respect to a lot of folks showing up — even before the driver’s center opens,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said at a virtual briefing Tuesday.
“Because so many people have waited until the last minute, the lines at the driver’s centers are a thing. And so you’ll have to bring a little bit of patience along with the documents you need that’s highlighted on the PennDOT website.”
Starting May 7, the federal government is requiring a REAL ID with its extra verification or a passport to fly domestically or enter some federal buildings or military bases. Carroll said so far only 26% of the state’s driver licenses are REAL ID-compliant. So PennDOT is opening its centers for extra hours, to accommodate the demand.
“PennDOT is being aggressive with respect to opening Driver License Centers on Mondays, when we’re traditionally closed,” Carroll said.
The TSA has said there may be phased-in enforcement but hasn’t specified what that means. Carroll advised flyers to make sure they have a REAL ID to avoid any hassles at the airport checkpoint.
“Absent any additional information, I think it’s imperative for folks to go get their Real ID to ensure that they don’t get turned away,” he said. “The hassle factor would be sky-high if that happened.”
A REAL ID in Pennsylvania costs $30, in addition to the regular driver’s license fee. Carroll says the state will continue to process REAL IDs after the May 7 deadline.