Cheektowaga, N.Y. (WBEN) - Wednesday is deadline day for REAL IDs across the United States, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer accept state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant at security checkpoints.
All airline passengers 18-years-old or older, including TSA PreCheck members, must present REAL ID-compliant identification or other acceptable ID, such as a passport, at TSA security checkpoints or risk facing delays, additional screenings, or the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint.
"This topic has been communicated to the public for many, many years, so quite frankly, everybody should be prepared and ready to go," said Bart Johnson, TSA's Federal Security Director for airports across Upstate New York.
"This is long overdue. I'm personally glad it's here, because what it means is that the people that you're going to be sitting next to on the plane are required to present certain identification that allows them to get on a plane. So it's very important, and once again, it's been around for a long time and it's been highly publicized."
REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005, but implementation has been repeatedly delayed.
According to the TSA, currently 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints nationwide present an acceptable identification, including a state-issued REAL ID. However, Johnson says New York State's compliance rate with REAL ID is only at about 40%.
"I was just talking to some of the officers out front, and the good news is it seems as though people are getting the message and making sure that they have REAL ID, something that's REAL ID compliant, or a passport or a DOD (Department of Defense) identification, or something like Global Entry," Johnson said. "That's the good news, but we are still encountering individuals that don't have the proper identification."
Johnson expects the number of passengers obtaining REAL IDs to steadily increase even after the deadline, and compliance will continue with additional screening measures for those without a REAL ID until it is no longer considered a security vulnerability.
However, travelers who aren’t REAL ID compliant by Wednesday will still be able to fly, but should be prepared for extra scrutiny.
The head of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem told a Congressional panel on Tuesday that those who approach security checkpoints without an identification that complies with the REAL ID law "may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step."
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Johnson says TSA is full compliance with the REAL ID law come Wednesday, so the public needs to understand the responsibility they have to contribute to national security and follow regulations.
"It's been 20 years. It's been seven years since 2018, it's an easy process. I did it in 30 minutes by visiting a DMV, following the rules," he said. "So please follow the rules, and if you don't have REAL ID, if you have a passport, everything's going to be fine.
Before any traveler leaves their house in the coming days, weeks and months, Johnson advises to make sure you have an acceptable form of ID.
"You see the star in the upper right-hand corner, that's REAL ID compliant, and you'll be fine when you come to the airport," Johnson pointed out on an example. "Another one, and this is the one that I actually have, it's the enhanced driver's license, and that one has a flag either in the upper right-hand corner or the lower right-hand corner. That's a flag, and this is an enhanced driver's license, which means it's REAL ID compliant, and it allows me to go across the Mexican border or the Canadian border. This, too, is acceptable, no issue, and a passport is also acceptable."
While the expectations are that operations at security checkpoints will proceed as normal, Johnson says the NFTA is planning to have extra staff on hand starting Wednesday, but doesn't believe there will be any sort of issues arising from the enforcement of REAL IDs.
"People who have REAL ID or a passport, or REAL ID-compliant documents who get here two hours ahead of time will not have any delays. They won't be any additionally screenings. However, for those individuals that don't, no guarantees," he said. "Could be delays, they may miss their flight, they may receive additional screening. There's different courses of action that can happen."
All Johnson asks of travelers is to be understanding, cooperative and supportive to make sure every passenger can get to their destination safely.
"Understand that these officers have a job to do. Cooperate with them, listen to them, understand that they're there for a reason, and Job 1 is security. They're literally the last line of defense," Johnson said.