If you have your license handy, take a peek at it. Does it have a gold star on it? If it doesn’t doesn’t have a gold star on it, you won’t be able to use it to get through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) line at the airport come October 2020.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), only state-issued driver licenses and identification cards that are fully compliant with the REAL ID Act will be accepted for official federal government purposes, such as entering secure federal buildings or boarding domestic flights.
“Texas began issuing REAL ID compliant cards on October 10, 2016, and these cards are marked with a gold circle with an inset star located in the upper right-hand corner, as seen in the examples below,” said the department on their website.
The United States Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 in response to the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
“The REAL ID Act requires states to adopt and implement uniform standards for the issuance and production of state-issued driver licenses and identification cards if they are to be accepted as identity documents by the federal government. This Act strengthens the integrity and security of state-issued cards in an effort to reduce identity fraud and terrorism.”
By October 2020, you’ll need a gold circle with an inset star on the top right corner of your driver’s license.
All Texas driver licenses and identification cards, both compliant (star) and non-compliant (no star) are valid until the expiration date shown on the card. If you replaced or renewed your card after October 10, 2016, and have a gold star in the right-hand corner, your card is REAL ID compliant and no further action is required on your part. You may continue to use your compliant card for federal identification purposes until it expires.
If your card does not have the star, you can continue to use the card after October 1, 2020, but it will only be accepted for state-related purposes such as driving (driver license only), banking, and voting. It will not be accepted as identification for federal purposes.
“The Texas Department of Public Safety is committed to protecting the citizens of Texas by only licensing individuals who are properly identified and can demonstrate their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle on public roadways.”
For more information regarding REAL ID, click here
