Feds grant Oregon another Real ID Act extension

The Department of Homeland Security on Monday gave Oregon another extension for compliance with the federal Real ID Act. Oregon-issued driver licenses, instruction permits and identification cards will continue to be accepted for accessing federal buildings through at least Oct. 10.

Oregon lawmakers passed Senate Bill 374, and the governor signed it into law. Oregon will likely qualify for additional extensions with the statutory authority now approved, the Oregon DMV said Monday.

The most common federal use of state-issued ID is for air travel. The Transportation Safety Administration will begin to require Real ID Act compliant identification or state-issued credentials from states with exceptions for boarding all commercial aircraft on Jan. 22, 2018.

Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005. For state-by-state details on enforcement of the Act, visit the DHS website: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id.

In 2009, the Oregon Legislature passed a law barring DMV from spending state resources to comply with the act, unless the federal government pays the cost of implementation and ensures the security of Oregon residents’ driver and ID information. Passage of SB 374 this year supersedes the 2009 law.

Oregon already meets the majority of Real ID requirements. The primary changes remaining are to scan and store the documents customers submit to prove identity and lawful presence in the U.S.; verify some of those documents such as passports through federal systems; and verify the applicant doesn’t have a current license or ID card in another state.

Oregon’s issuance process, and the cards themselves, are already very secure, the agency said. DMV already verifies legal presence and identity, uses facial recognition to guard against identity fraud, and has multiple security features embedded in the cards themselves. However, DMV does not store copies of customers’ identity documents, and does not use some national electronic verification systems created for Real ID.

Any time you need to visit an Oregon DMV office in person, DMV suggests that you visit OregonDMV.com to make sure you have everything you need. If you just need to renew your vehicle registration, you can do that online at OregonDMV.com for passenger vehicles and a few other types of vehicles, such as travel trailers.