FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alaska Granted Extension For Real ID Act

Military bases will continue to accept AK identification

October 18, 2017, Juneau – Alaska received good news from the federal government for Alaska Day: approval of the state’s request for a REAL ID extension. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security notified state officials today that Alaska has been granted an extension through October 10, 2018, from enforcement of the federal REAL ID Act. Military bases and other federal facilities will continue to accept Alaska’s state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards for access.

“The Alaska DMV is working hard to meet the federal requirements so Alaskans can continue to get to work and travel,” said Commissioner Leslie Ridle, Department of Administration, who oversees the DMV. “This extension allows us to complete upgrades needed to produce higher security, compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.”

Background:
Last session, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law HB 16 to allow the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to move forward with preparations for producing REAL IDs. The federal REAL ID Act of 2005 contains several provisions aimed at increasing national security based on recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. To help prevent terrorists from gaining state identification, the Act created national standards for the issuance and manufacture of state identification.

HB 16 allows the DMV to produce state ID cards and driver’s licenses that meet REAL ID requirements, while continuing to produce ID and licenses in the manner they are produced now. In short, the bill gives Alaskans a choice between what they currently have, or a compliant version that will be accepted on military bases and for TSA-secured domestic travel.

The DMV will begin producing REAL ID cards in January of 2019. Starting in October of 2020, all Alaskans will need a compliant state-issued card or other acceptable federal identification for domestic travel.

To receive email or text alerts on the status of REAL ID, please sign up here: http://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/realid.

Contact: Minta Montalbo,
Public Information Officer
minta.montalbo@alaska.gov
(907) 465-117

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