Real ID

Not as if it would matter?

The transition to digital identification globally is driven by the need for more secure, efficient, and convenient ways to verify identity, especially as more services move online. Digital IDs can enhance access to essential services, reduce identity fraud, and promote inclusion for individuals who currently lack formal identification.
 
It was a pain for me to get the Real ID documents while subleasing a room with friends. Solving it honestly took some photoshop creativity to solve. But we can't all be pirates. Arrgh.

That said, after a few days figuring out documentation, in California I was able to make an online appointment and fill out the applications ahead of time. Despite a huge general line, I got to skip ahead and was called within 5 mins of my appointment time with the lobby packed. They just verified my documents and off I went, there maybe 20 mins total.

The DMV always sucks to an extent, but prior planning and utilizing technology can stop it from being an all day affair.
 
It's being proposed that fliers without Real ID will be charged about 15 bucks by the TSA for screening...


For us in the industry, Real ID isn’t a burden since we carry state issued photo IDs, a crew badge, and passport at all times.

I’d be curious to see the data on how many people are traveling through TSA without Real ID now and why this fee is necessary.
 
Either Real ID is necessary for effective security and should be required or it shouldn’t. “You need this to fly unless you pay a fee” makes the security theater even more obvious.

I agree 100%. The problem lies in the difference between being able to comply. As members here have explained, some places are very easy to accomplish it and other places are quite burdensome, especially for those with difficulty getting to their local government offices.
 
I don’t at all disagree. I’m not at all shocked that the implementation was borked. But a fee for not having a compliant ID isn’t how you fix it. Having registration/help available at airports might be a good step? But either you’re safe to get on a plane with current ID or you’re not. Maybe this is how the head of TSA and poster child for PETA plans to pay the definitely not union busting shutdown bonuses.
 
I said the same until getting a DL in Hawaii.

Could’ve driven back to the mainland for a renewal in less time.
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Picture turned out nice.
 
If only the government had rolled this out for a period of years, telling people REAL ID was coming and required for travel, and if only they kept pushing that date further and further back so people could buy even more time.
 
Now that Apple has rolled out the ability to add your passport to your digital wallet, this will be my goto for all domestic travel. I still have my passport in my bag at all times, but this will eliminate the need to keep it handy.

 
It's just a way to keep people from freely moving around easily without having some "super special biometric identification" stuff. It's basically an internal passport.
That part of the debate was arguably lost in the mid-2000s when it became a thing (with super-delayed and cluster-frakky implementation, because reasons).

The fee for TSA clearance without one is just enpoopification, government style.
 
Now that Apple has rolled out the ability to add your passport to your digital wallet, this will be my goto for all domestic travel. I still have my passport in my bag at all times, but this will eliminate the need to keep it handy.

Screenshot 2025-11-21 at 12.14.49.png

...we promise. ;)

I mean not to sound like Cereal Killer but our names go through all these computers a day, man...
 
That part of the debate was arguably lost in the mid-2000s when it became a thing (with super-delayed and cluster-frakky implementation, because reasons).

The fee for TSA clearance without one is just enpoopification, government style.
I mean, I don't want to sound like a crazy sovereign citizen person... but yeah... it's not great to need government permission to travel around. All the goobers excited about real id are just fascists - even if they're on "my side." You should NOT need to ask permission to "vote with your feet" - whether it's across national borders or state borders... and while the requirement of ID to cross an imaginary line started as a way to keep out "scary different people" it's going to (in a sort of Foucault's Boomerang sort of sense) eventually be something used on our own citizens to travel internally. Eventually if we continue on this course, we're going to need an id to cross state lines by vehicle, then eventually even by foot. That's just how power works - it's not a slippery slope, but it is a slope. You did not really need permission to move to France 150 years ago or if you did it was superficial. You could just move to France - same for most places (though the Tang dynasty seems particularly screwed up
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ltzdoz/since_when_cant_we_just_move_to_another_country/
, the same for Pre-Soviet Russia). Yes, there were travel documents going all the way back to the Persians at something like 500BC, but literally, nobody stopped you from just moving. These changes are not good for humans. This stack exchange article was interesting When did the modern visa system become widespread? - this is not progress to me! This is the erosion of fundamental human rights and we should all be extremely upset about it. But "hurr durr, MERICA FURST! WE've ALWAYs DONE it LIKE this!" from the least informed and unimaginative dip•s is par for the course.

Real ID will just spread travel restrictions domestically if it actually ever gets enforced.
 
I mean, I don't want to sound like a crazy sovereign citizen person... but yeah... it's not great to need government permission to travel around. All the goobers excited about real id are just fascists - even if they're on "my side." You should NOT need to ask permission to "vote with your feet" - whether it's across national borders or state borders... and while the requirement of ID to cross an imaginary line started as a way to keep out "scary different people" it's going to (in a sort of Foucault's Boomerang sort of sense) eventually be something used on our own citizens to travel internally. Eventually if we continue on this course, we're going to need an id to cross state lines by vehicle, then eventually even by foot. That's just how power works - it's not a slippery slope, but it is a slope. You did not really need permission to move to France 150 years ago or if you did it was superficial. You could just move to France - same for most places (though the Tang dynasty seems particularly screwed up
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ltzdoz/since_when_cant_we_just_move_to_another_country/
, the same for Pre-Soviet Russia). Yes, there were travel documents going all the way back to the Persians at something like 500BC, but literally, nobody stopped you from just moving. These changes are not good for humans. This stack exchange article was interesting When did the modern visa system become widespread? - this is not progress to me! This is the erosion of fundamental human rights and we should all be extremely upset about it. But "hurr durr, MERICA FURST! WE've ALWAYs DONE it LIKE this!" from the least informed and unimaginative dip•s is par for the course.

Real ID will just spread travel restrictions domestically if it actually ever gets enforced.

Right.

Identity validation is the basis of all 'real' security, though I am always fond of pointing out that CAPPS (as it existed) actually worked as designed on the morning of September 11, 2001, too.

BUT you also have to wonder (well, nobody HAS to wonder) how far the 'administrative' nature of the search for air travel can be stretched.
 
Right.

Identity validation is the basis of all 'real' security, though I am always fond of pointing out that CAPPS (as it existed) actually worked as designed on the morning of September 11, 2001, too.

BUT you also have to wonder (well, nobody HAS to wonder) how far the 'administrative' nature of the search for air travel can be stretched.
It can be stretched as much as your various cavities can be stretched during an unconstitutional search.
 
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