R.I. DMV gets extension on ID compliance law

CRANSTON – The R.I. Division of Motors Vehicles received an extension on its deadline to comply with the REAL ID Act by the Department of Homeland Security, the R.I. DMV announced Monday.

Rhode Island was one of nearly 20 states to receive an extension to October 2018 to have a standard and plan in place and approved by the DHS.

The REAL ID Act was passed in the wake of 9/11, establishing minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Beginning Jan. 22, 2018, driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by states that are not in compliance with the REAL ID Act and have not been granted an extension may not be used to fly within the United States.

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Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, every traveler will need a REAL ID Act-compliant identification to fly within the U.S.

“The Department of Homeland Security recognizes the State of Rhode Island’s efforts in supporting our shared goal of improving the security of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards … Rhode Island has a path forward toward satisfying REAL ID requirements,” said Elaine C. Duke, acting DHS secretary, in a statement. “As such, DHS is granting Rhode Island an extension through October 10, 2018 to satisfy the requirements of the REAL ID Act and regulations.”

The REAL ID Act prohibits federal agencies, such as the Transportation Security Administration, from accepting licenses and identification cards for official purposes from states that do not meet certain standards. Those standards include requiring applicants to provide proof of identity and lawful status in the U.S, and states to use counterfeit-resistant security features in the IDs.

The R.I. DMV plans to start the driver’s license and state identification recertification process in January 2019.

“The Division continues the technical and process development work needed to comply with the provisions of REAL ID,” said Walter R. Craddock, the DMV’s administrator, in a statement. “We are confident that we will complete that work in time to achieve full compliance by January 2019 as required by DHS.”

Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.