Michigan residents reportedly adjusting well to the new federal REAL ID requirements that officially took effect this week. As of May 7th, travelers must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or an approved alternative, like an Enhanced Driver’s License, in order to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson tells WPHM’s Paul Miller that the transition in Michigan has gone smoothly, with no major issues reported at Secretary of State branches. She says more than 75 percent of Michigan residents have already made the switch—well above the national average—and about 50,000 people upgraded their licenses just last week. Despite the last-minute push, Benson says most people are still getting in and out of branch offices in under 20 minutes.
Even though the deadline has passed, residents who don’t yet have a REAL ID can still upgrade at any time. A REAL ID features a star in the upper right corner of the card, while Enhanced Driver’s Licenses are marked with a U.S. flag and are also accepted for air travel and federal access. Travelers who don’t have a compliant ID may be subject to extra screening or denied entry at TSA or Homeland Security checkpoints.
