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NEWS FOR YOU…. from the Iowa Department of Transportation

By Debra Carney
Driver License Supervisor, Office of Driver Services
Davenport, Iowa

Upcoming changes in driver’s license and identification card compliances

If you have been to your local Driver’s License station to renew your driver’s license (DL) or non-operator identification (ID) card within the last few years, you have noticed some changes. One of the more recent changes is how you receive the card. Beginning April 19, 2010 DL/ID cards were mailed to you, instead of you receiving them from your local office.

This change was in response to acts of terrorism committed against the United States, when Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005. The REAL ID Act is implemented through federal regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (6 C.F.R. § 37, as amended by 76 FR 12269). The current federal regulations can be viewed at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2008-01-29/html/08-140.htm and www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-03-07/html/2011-5002.htm.

In addition to HOW you obtain your DL/ID cards, changes are taking place regarding the standards for proof of identity, date of birth, Social Security number, residence and lawful status or presence. This update to the standards will make the DL/ID acceptable for federal official purposes. Federal “official purposes” are defined as boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, accessing federal facilities that require identification to enter and entering nuclear power plants. If you have a valid DL/ID card, it will be accepted for federal official purposes until the individual compliance dates listed below.

• The STATE compliance date is January 15, 2013. Under current federal regulations, a DL/ID card issued by a state that is not compliant by this date may not be accepted for federal official purposes.

• The first INDIVIDUAL compliance date is December 1, 2014. On or after this date, a person born after December 1, 1964 must have a DL/ID card that is marked as being compliant with the REAL ID Act to use it for federal official purposes.

• The second INDIVIDUAL compliance date is December 1, 2017. On and after this date, a person born on or before December 1, 1964 must have a DL/ID card that is marked as being compliant with the REAL ID Act to use it for federal official purposes.

To assure Iowans can continue to use their DL/ID cards for federal official purposes, the Iowa Department of Transportation will begin issuing cards with the compliant marking beginning January 15, 2013.

If you have a valid DL/ID card, it will be accepted for federal official purposes until the individual compliance date that affects you. December 1, 2014 for persons born after December 1, 1964 or December 1, 2017 for persons born on or before December 1, 1964.

There is no need to rush out and get a REAL ID-marked card. The earliest you may need one is in 2014.