What is a REAL ID?
A REAL ID is an ID or driver’s license that has been federally approved for use to gain access to nuclear power plants, federal facilities and federally regulated commercial aircraft in the U.S. Read more
Select where you would like to search:
- Search Store
- Search Site
Posts
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Delays REAL ID Deadline by One Year
States now have additional time to comply with federal rules
Nevada Supporting Two ID Types, One REAL
In the latest news involving the enactment of the REAL ID act, drivers in Nevada are having difficulty using certain IDs for activities like entering a courthouse or receiving access to Federal property, and for some, such as lawyers, this is problematic.
The issue involves Nevada’s choice to adopt the REAL ID but maintain its old program as well. REAL IDs are becoming the standard for most federally legitimate identification processes. Their increased security features were preventative measures taken in a post-9/11 political environment. Use the useful chart above to check whether or not your ID is REAL or, well, you know, not REAL.
New MN Enhanced Driver’s License. What is it?
Do you know what an enhanced driver’s license is?
Minnesota is just one of five states that offer an enhanced driver’s license. This license costs $15 extra and looks very different from the typical license.
What does an enhanced driver’s license get you? With this license, you can travel between Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Bahamas without a passport. The license itself is a lot more stiff and has the word enhanced on the front with an American flag.
Inside the license is an RFID (radio frequency identification chip) that is used at the border to verify your identity against a federal database. This is the same type of database that is used for passports.
Our software is programmed to read any type of enhanced ID. Our parsing engine is the most up to date on the market and reads IDs from all 50 US states, 8 Canadian provinces, and all Mexican provinces. To learn more about our solutions, please visit our solutions page.
Interested in reading RFID chips using a mobile or tablet ID scanner? Visit our store page to learn about the newest RFID compatible mobile scanners.
What do you think about the new enhanced IDs being rolled out across the country? Leave your thoughts below in the comment section.
REAL ID approved by Louisiana Senate
In Louisiana, legislation was approved to allow local residents to obtain a driver’s license that is compliant with the REAL ID Act.
House Bill 907 will provide the option for Louisiana residents to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license or one that does not comply with federal standards. Several of the ID opponents worry that the REAL ID Act may lead to additional governmental intrusion into state affairs.
The REAL ID program began following 9/11. It creates security standards for all drivers’ licenses. States that don’t implement the new ID may cause residents to be rejected when using their driver’s license as identification to obtain a boarding pass.
To read the full story, please visit The Advocate website.
Updated June 29, 2023
The new ID has since been implemented by the Louisiana government. LA residents have until May 7, 2025 to comply with Real ID standards. According to Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, “The card, itself, must be REAL ID compliant unless the resident is using an acceptable alternative document such as a passport or passport card, or state-issued Enhanced Driver’s License. The REAL ID Act does not require individuals to present identification where it is not currently required to access a federal facility nor does it prohibit an agency from accepting other forms of identity documents (such as a U.S. passport or passport card).”
