HARRISBURG – The Department of Transportation announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has granted the commonwealth an initial extension to implement the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act.
PennDOT applied for the extension to complete a full analysis of the final REAL ID regulations, which were issued Jan. 11.
The extension allows Pennsylvania residents to continue using PA driver’s license and identification cards as ID for official federal purposes through Dec. 31, 2009.
Under the final REAL ID regulations, effective May 11, 2008, only REAL ID-compliant driver’s license and identification cards would be accepted for official federal purposes, i.e. boarding a commercial aircraft, entering a nuclear power plant or federal facility that requires identification unless states request and are granted a initial extension by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“Being granted this extension does not commit the commonwealth to comply with the REAL ID Act,” said Kurt J. Myers, PennDOT’s deputy secretary for safety administration. “This extension simply allows us additional time to complete the analysis of the regulations in order to determine potential options, the costs involved and the effect on our citizens.”
Once a comprehensive review of the final REAL ID regulations is complete, PennDOT will be able to provide further information.