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Deadline Passes With No REAL ID Extension

KYTC

Kentucky is officially out of compliance with federal driver’s license and ID regulations after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security didn’t grant another extension for the state to enact stricter standards. The previous extension expired Monday.

Transportation cabinet officials had requested the extension last month but still haven’t heard back from DHS.

“It’s kind of hard to assume what the federal government’s going to do,” Transportation Cabinet spokesman Ryan Watts said. “We’re hopeful they’re going to grant us an extension, we just can’t predict how they’re going to act on our letter.”

Signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2005, the REAL ID Act requires Kentucky to centralize the issuance of driver’s licenses to the state Transportation Cabinet instead of circuit clerks’ offices and verify applications through a federal government database.

Kentucky is one of 29 states that is not compliant with REAL ID standards.

The immediate impact is minor — Kentuckians will no longer be able to get into the Homeland Security national headquarters in Washington D.C. using a driver’s license; they’ll have to bring a passport instead.

If an extension isn’t granted by Jan. 7, 2017, Kentucky driver licenses and identification won’t be accepted at some federal facilities like military bases and nuclear power plants.

And on Jan. 22, 2018, Kentuckians wouldn’t be able to board commercial airplanes without a passport.

During this year’s legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill that would have brought Kentucky into compliance with REAL ID standards. Gov. Matt Bevin vetoed the measure, citing “tremendous opposition and misunderstanding” of the issue.

Tea Party and civil liberties groups have both opposed the REAL ID initiative, calling it an overreach of federal power and threat to personal privacy.

The issue will likely come up during this year’s short legislative session, which begins in January.

Ryland Barton is the Managing Editor for Collaboratives for Kentucky Public Radio, a group of public radio stations including WKMS, WFPL in Louisville, WEKU in Richmond and WKYU in Bowling Green. A native of Lexington, Ryland most recently served as the Capitol Reporter for Kentucky Public Radio. He has covered politics and state government for NPR member stations KWBU in Waco and KUT in Austin.
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