Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon alerts drivers born after Dec. 1, 1964 that their one-year countdown to meet the federal Real ID deadline started Dec. 1.
Drivers and individuals with state-issued licenses and IDs born after Dec. 1, 1964 have until Dec. 1, 2014 to comply with the federal Real ID law. A license meeting Real ID standards will be required to board a commercial flight or enter a federal building. Those born before Dec. 1, 1964 have until 2017 to meet the requirement.
“The intent of this law is to help keep us safe from terrorists and improve the integrity and security of state-issued licenses and IDs,” Gannon said. “Secure identification documents are a vital component of preventing another attack on our country and reducing fraud.”
How do you know if you have a Real ID license? Real ID licenses and ID cards have a star in the upper right-hand corner. If you don’t have a star, the license is not Real ID-compliant.
Real ID licenses cannot be issued online or by mail. Homeland Security requires that you bring original documents to prove birth, Social Security and residence. If you’ve changed your name, for example by marriage, then you’ll need additional documents.
“We want to help people get prepared. This is an easy transaction when you bring the right documents,” Gannon said. “We suggest against waiting until the last minute.”
People are also advised to check when their license expires. If it expires after the deadline, plan to renew early. Licenses and ID cards can be renewed 18 months in advance.
In 2010, the Florida Legislature transferred the job of issuing Real ID-compliant licenses and ID cards to local tax collectors. Gannon’s office has seven locations providing the service.
For more info., visit www.pbctax.com/real-id.
