MARIENVILLE – State Rep. Donna Oberlander and members of her staff answered questions regarding Pennsylvania’s Real ID law Wednesday in Marienville.
Federal enforcement of the Real ID Act will begin at airports and secure federal facilities nationwide starting Oct. 1, 2020. After that date, residents will need a federally accepted form of identification – such as a Pennsylvania Real ID driver’s license or identification card, a U.S. passport/passport card or military ID to board a commercial flight (including domestic flights) or visit a secure federal building that requires ID for entrance.
“Pennsylvania entered into the Real ID late,” said Oberlander. “We believed Pennsylvania is a sovereign state and that we could do our own ID system.”
Federal regulations require that to be issued a Real ID-compliant product, PennDOT must verify a variety of documents to prove a person’s identity, including documentation of name changes, as well as his/her Social Security number and place of residence.
Oberlander said the regulations are more difficult for women who may have more than one name change.
“If a woman has had more than one marriage and changed her name she has to provide documentation for each marriage, ” Oberlander said.
Oberlander’s office can assist residents in obtaining some of the documents, such as a birth certificate, that may be needed to start the process.
“It is important to note that Real ID for Pennsylvania residents is not mandatory,” Oberlander said. “Only those residents who fly commercially or want entry into certain federal facilities will need one. Also, residents who have valid U.S. passports also do not need to obtain a Real ID. Passports can take the place of Real ID for those purposes.”
“We will make this work,” said Oberlander. “You need to make the decision that is best for you.”
