Identification Ohio in compliance with security guidelines

Staff/wire report

YOUNGSTOWN

Fliers who possess Ohio driver’s licenses need not fear about having them rejected at airline security gates.

That’s because Ohio is one of 23 states that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has deemed in compliance with new and stricter security guidelines for driver’s licenses, the most common ID used by travelers when boarding flights.

Many travelers had been worried that the Transportation Security Administration would penalize them because of a federal law requiring newer, more-stringent IDs at the start of this year.

The Real ID Act, approved by Congress in 2005, set minimum standards for licenses in response to security concerns after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Enforcement of those requirements has repeatedly been delayed.

For a license to be compliant with the Real ID Act, the state issuing it must, for example, incorporate anti-counterfeit technology into the card, verify the applicant’s identity and conduct background checks for employees involved in issuing driver’s licenses.

Currently, 23 states and U.S. territories have complied with the act, and 27 states and territories have been granted an extension.

Ohio has been deemed fully compliant, and Pennsylvania has been granted an extension.

Late Friday afternoon, the Department of Homeland Security said passengers could continue using their current IDs until Jan. 22, 2018. Some would have until Oct. 1, 2020.

After those dates, passengers without the proper driver’s licenses would have to use other federally approved forms of ID such as a passport.