CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles encouraged those who have not secured a REAL ID to not wait any longer.
The driver’s license issued by a secure federal facility is an added layer of security and required for anyone who ever has to fly or enter a federal building. West Virginia DMV Commissioner Everett Frazier said no excuse for not getting it makes any sense.
“A lot of people think, ‘Well, I’m never going to fly.’ Well, the fact of the matter is no one knows when life happens. You never know when you’re going to have to get on a plane and God forbid fly to the Cleveland Clinic or fly somewhere to aid a family member, so why not have it just in case,” said Frazier.
The license makes for smoother movement for boarding an airplane, but it’s also required for entering a federal building and while you may not think you’ll ever fly, the chances are much higher you’ll have to go into a federal building at some point in your life.
“A lot of people don’t realize Social Security offices, V-A offices, or courts, they are all federal buildings,” Frazier said.
Plus if you do fly and don’t have the REAL-ID driver license, it’s just been announced it’s going to hit you in the wallet.
“Unbeknownst to us, TSA announced a few weeks ago the were going to implement a $45 fee on February 1st. You’re going to have to have it if you fly or you’ll have to pay a fee,” he added.
The REAL ID driver’s license is and extra $10 at any DMV location. Instead of walking out with your license, it is mailed to you while you drive on a temporary license. The REAL ID is easy to spot with a large gold star in the upper right hand corner of the license. The DMV estimated a bout 63 percent of West Virginians have obtained a REAL ID.