NEWS

Feds grant Louisiana year-long REAL ID extension

Greg Hilburn
USA TODAY Network

Louisianians without a U.S. passport won't be turned away from federal offices Monday or stopped from boarding commercial flights next year after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security granted the state another extension on the REAL ID law.

State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said the feds informed him of their decision late Friday afternoon and he briefed Gov. Bobby Jindal immediately.

"This is good news," said Edmonson, whose agency requested the extension last month. "This gives the Legislature plenty of time to address the issue next year."

The Legislature did pass a bill to allow Louisiana residents to secure a REAL ID compliant driver's license last year, but Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed the measure, expressing concern that REAL ID is a mask for a national identification system that compromises states' sovereignty.

Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 as a preventive measure against terrorist attacks like 9/11 with specific requirements for state-issued driver's licenses. Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York, as well as American Samoa, are the only states and territory that have failed to comply.

Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, and U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., sent a letter to Homeland Security lobbying for an extension that was signed on to by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and U.S. Reps. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, Ralph Abraham, R-Alto, Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge.

“Louisiana is approaching compliance with these new regulations, but state and local law enforcement officials need more time," Boustany said. "This delay will give our state the flexibility to come into compliance without causing any unnecessary inconveniences for Louisiana citizens. I’m proud to stand with my Louisiana colleagues on this issue.”

Edmonson said the one-year extension begins Saturday, the same day that Louisiana residents would have been turned away from federal facilities without a passport or other accepted ID. The flight restrictions would have kicked in sometime in 2016.

He said Louisiana is already "98 percent compliant" with REAL ID. Two of the major requirements the state isn't following are taking photos of everyone who enters the DMV and requiring certified copies of birth certificates to renew all licenses. "We already require new drivers to produce birth certificates," he said.

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