With the May 7 deadline fast approaching, only a quarter of Pennsylvanians have their REAL ID so far, writes Nate File for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
PennDot Secretary Mike Carroll recently reminded residents that without it, they may not be able to fly domestically.
“It would be a shame for anybody to show up … and be turned away by the TSA,” he said.
Starting May 7, Americans must present a REAL ID or another TSA-approved alternative for domestic flights or entry into certain federal buildings, replacing the driver’s license.
REAL ID can be obtained at a PennDOT center after presenting the necessary documents proving your identity and residency.
Carroll noted that roughly 2.6 million Pennsylvanians – about 26 percent of the state’s drivers – have gotten a REAL ID.
“There’s a lot of procrastinators out there,” he said.
With PennDOT spreading the word, applications have begun pouring in.
“The volumes have definitely increased,” said Carroll.
On Mondays, leading up to the deadline, PennDOT will host “REAL ID Days” at certain driver’s license centers.
While TSA will start checking for the document on May 7, residents will still be able to obtain a REAL ID after that deadline.
Read more about REAL ID in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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