Do I Need a Real ID?
By Mitchell Slepian
Do I need a Real or Enhanced ID to prove I exist? Should I get one? How difficult does our government make it to obtain one? In 2005, The Real ID Act, was passed by Congress. It enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards.” I hold a New York State Driver’s License and a US Passport. I’ve been using both as forms of ID for many years. By 2025, travelers must be Real ID-compliant to fly domestically in the United States. A passport or an Enhanced ID state drivers license will allow you to board your jet. I like leaving on a jet plane.
I decided to get the NYS Enhanced ID. I filled out the form and placed the required ID materials (birth certificate, voter ID card, and utility bill — note that a US passport also qualifies) into an envelope. I made my appointment with the NYS DMV.
Last Tuesday, I marched over to the downtown NYS Department of Motor Vehicles for my 12:30 appointment. I was there about 15 minutes early. My phone said I could check in five minutes early. There was no one on the check in line in the DMV. I showed my code to the woman who handled checking people in. She said you’re early. Come back in a few minutes. I saw a text on my phone with a check-in number. I showed it to her. She was shocked and said, I guess you’re checked in. Wait to be called. Almost immediately I was called to a window.
I went to window number 29. It’s no surprise the windows were not in order. I walked around and found it. I saw number 26 and figured I’d see it three windows over. Nope. It was near the lower numbers.
They took my picture and were told to wait to be called. I said, how long. I was told at least two hours. I went back to the check-in woman and asked why, if I had an appointment at 12:30, I needed to wait a minimum of over two hours. She said, ‘Would you really think you’d be seen at the appointment time?’ I said, I understand if there would be a 10- or 15-minute delay. I noted at a doctor’s office you are usually seen a few minutes later than your scheduled appointment time. She said, well, this is the DMV. We only give you an appointment to get you in the door. Then you wait a few hours. I said, why make an appointment. Again, she said to get in. She checked in plenty of people who had no appointments. I walked out around 12:30. Around 3:30, I received a text that it was my time to go to the window and finish up. I was at my desk t work. So, my two-hour wait was over three hours.
They could make it all online. You can take the picture with your phone and email it to us. That’s how I renewed my license a few years ago. Additionally, they required you to present your current driver’s license, which means you met their ID requirements. So why would they need to check again?
I decided I am not going back. I will use my passport to fly domestically. Of course, renewing that requires a trip to the US Post Office. Visiting the post office is always as interesting and efficient as visiting the DMV.
Mitchell's thoughts, photos, etc. 