Your current Oregon driver's license won't get you through airport security next fall

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) - If you expect to fly out of PDX for the holidays in 2020, pay attention. Your current driver’s license won’t get you through security.

Oregon is one of just four states that still does not offer a driver’s license or ID card that is compliant with the Real ID Act, which Congress passed in 2005.

The Real ID Act tightened and standardized national standards for state-issued ID cards. The Real ID compliant cards will be needed to access federal facilities, enter nuclear power plants, and fly on federally regulated commercial aircraft.

So why is Oregon so far behind? It had to do with money.

In 2009, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 536, which prohibited the use of state funds to comply with the Real ID Act.

Then, in 2017, the Legislature reversed SB 536 and directed the Department of Motor Vehicles to move toward complying with the act.

“It was a national foot dragging,” said David House, a spokesperson for Oregon DMV. “Oregon was part of a large group of states that didn't comply with the act for a number of reasons. The biggest reason was a cost. It was essentially an unfunded mandate.”

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation’s current budget, the state expects to spend $3.6 million on Real ID over the next two years.

The DMV will begin issuing Real ID compliant cards starting in July 2020. Your current ID cards won’t get you through security starting in October 2020. That leaves a three-month window if you want to get the new ID card to fly by next October.

House says they expect about 1 million Oregonians to get a Real ID compliant card. They usually process 600,000 driver’s licenses and ID cards in a single year.

When asked if they were prepared for a rush next summer, House said, “We can't serve a million people in three months. But, the good news is, we don't need to. You don't need to come in and do it.”

The DMV usually handle about 600,000 driver’s licenses and ID cards in a year.

A passport or military ID will get you through security by October 2020. House says the DMV is encouraging Oregonians to get a passport or update their current one so they don’t need to rush to get a Real ID compliant card next year.

According to the DMV, “customers will pay the standard fee for replacement, renewal or original issuance of a driver license or identification card, as well as an additional Real ID fee, which is yet to be determined.”

When Oregon DMV begins to issue Real ID cards, you will need to bring in documents to verify:

-Identity and legal presence: Acceptable documents include a U.S. government-issued birth certificate, unexpired U.S. passport/passport card, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, Consular Record of Birth Abroad, valid permanent resident card, valid employment authorization card, or an unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired visa and valid I-94 issued by DHS.
- Social Security number: Acceptable documents include a Social Security Card, W2 form, a 1099 form, or paystub. Documents must include your name and SSN.
-Address: Acceptable documents can be found here. Two proofs of address are required and you must present hardcopy documents for imaging purposes.

KATU Reporter Keaton Thomas answers your questions about Real ID: