OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahomans can stop worrying, at least for a while, about whether their driver’s licenses will get them through airport security.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has granted the state another one-year extension for implementation of the Real ID Act.
The extension runs through Oct. 10, 2016.
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“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,” Gov. Mary Fallin said in a written statement. “In the meantime, I will work this legislative session with the Legislature, DPS, Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation and the Department of Homeland Security on a permanent solution.”
A 2007 law prevents Oklahoma from fully implementing Real ID, which essentially involves adding a number of security features to state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. Opponents believe the new IDs are an undue invasion of privacy.
Real ID was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2005 primarily as an anti-terrorism measure.
Full implementation has been pushed back several times because of widespread opposition. Currently, it is set to take effect at an unspecified time after Jan. 1, except in states that have been granted extensions.
The letter notifying Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Thompson of the extension lists nine Real ID Act components the state has yet to address. After each is a notation that Oklahoma plans to introduce legislation addressing the issue in 2016, become compliant in 2017, or become compliant without listing a specific date.
Opponents of Real ID fear it will be used to collect biometric data, including the required high-resolution photographs compatible with facial recognition software.
No other forms of biometric information are currently required under the act.
Less than a week ago, the state was notified of a three-month extension through the end of 2015.
