Oklahoma Granted Extension On REAL ID Requirements

Oklahoma has been granted an extension on requirements to become REAL ID compliant until Oct. 10, 2018, according to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

This means the federal government will continue to recognize Oklahoma driver’s licenses and ID cards until that time.
 
"This is great news for Oklahomans, and means there will be no restrictions on individuals using Oklahoma licenses to fly or access federal buildings through October 10 of next year," said Fallin. "I applaud our lawmakers for working in a constructive, bipartisan fashion in approving legislation earlier this year that made Oklahoma compliant with the REAL ID Act."

DPS Commissioner Michael C. Thompson said, “There have been many questions recently about Oklahoma’s status regarding REAL ID. DPS is actively working towards making Oklahoma REAL ID compliant and will use this time to gain compliance with the requirement. We strongly appreciate Governor Fallin’s leadership in signing REAL ID into law.”

Fallin signed legislation earlier this year to bring the state in compliance with the 2005 law that strengthens rules for government-sanctioned identification. The measure requires state driver's licenses and ID cards to have security enhancements and be issued to people who can prove they are legally in the United States.

“Once the law was passed, then there was a process where we had to select a vendor,” said Captain Paul Timmons with the Department of Public Safety. “That’s been done. And we started with them about three weeks ago, getting the equipment and everything necessary to start producing the REAL IDs. And from that point, you’re still talking about 24-30 months before we can actually roll out the first REAL IDs.”

Those who would like more information about REAL ID are asked to refer to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website at www.dhs.gov/real-id, or the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety website at www.dps.ok.gov