The Independent View: Airports Warn of Chaos with Looming Real ID License Oct. Deadline

The Nation's Airports are Warning of Chaos for Passengers if the White House doesn't Postpone the Looming Real ID Deadline.

The Law requires Airline Passengers to Present a Citizenship Verified Real ID Compliant Driver's License, State ID Card, or a: Passport, Military ID, or a Global Entry Card, at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Checkpoints in U.S. Airports as of Oct. 1st, 2020. Driver's Licenses will be Marked with Star on the Top.

But while States have already issued 95 Million Real IDs, that represents just 34% of the Total, leaving Two-Thirds of the Country with about Seven Months to get a REAL ID if they hope to use a License to Board a Plane.

The Airports Council International-North America, which Represents the Nation's Airports, warned that Thousands of Passengers could be Denied Boarding and Left Stranded. ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin Burke said "this is a crisis waiting to happen." "If the government doesn't make a definitive statement now that they're going to extend this, then we're going to have a real crisis on our hands come Oct. 1," he added.

Congress Passed the Real ID Law after 9/11 to Create a Single, Robust National Standard for All States and Territories.

Across the Country, Motor Vehicle Offices have been flooded with People trying to Upgrade to a Real ID. Everyone is Required to Present Four Pieces of Identification, including: a Passport or a Birth Certificate, a Social Security Card or a Tax Return, and Two Documents that provide Proof of Residency, a Mortgage or a Rental Receipt, and a Utility Bill.

To handle the Rush, State DMV Offices have Staffed Up and are Allowing People to make Appointments to Present their Documents for Review. But many States say they're Overwhelmed and can't Keep Up.

Sue Fulton, Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, said that "demand outstrips the number of available Real ID appointments."

Oklahoma State Officials say only a Handful of DMV Offices will begin Issuing that State's Real IDs on April 30th. The Rest of the State will Follow over the Summer.

Oregon Authorities said it will take until July before they're able to Issue the First New IDs.

Tom Fuller from the Oregon Department of Transportation said, "If we worked 24/7, we'd have to do seven a minute to get the number of licenses out by October. But there's no way that we could do seven a minute."

Oregon and Washington State are now urging Citizens to get a Passport Card or Book, saying that the Process will be far Quicker.

Kaiya Arroyo, Standing in Line at a Manhattan DMV Office Tuesday, said, "It's packed in there. The line is out the door. People are very upset, frustrated." Eric Silver added, "It's pretty chaotic. There's just — people are everywhere. It's impossible to know when you're going to go up."

So far, The Department of Homeland Security has given No Indication that it's Open to a Delay, although it is considering Options to Speed up the Verification Process.

With the Clock Ticking to the Real ID Deadline, Travel Pros are urging Airline Passengers to Upgrade their Licenses as soon as possible, or Plan on getting a Passport.