What is the REAL ID Act?

The 9/11 Commission understood this in 2004 when it made its recommendation that "Secure identification should begin in the United States. The federal government should set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.  Fraud in identification document is no longer just a problem of theft.  At many entry points to vulnerable facilities, including gates for boarding aircraft, sources of identification are the last opportunity to ensure that people are who they say they are and to check whether they are terrorists."

As a result of that recommendation, Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005, setting standards to secure our driver's licenses from criminals and terrorists. The REAL ID standards secure every point of the process. For example, documents presented as proof of identity and lawful status are verified with the issuing agency, meaning that if a birth certificate is presented as proof of identity, the REAL ID standards require that the birth certificate is verified with the vital records agency that issued it. Social Security cards also must be verified with the Social Security Administration.  Driver's licenses and ID cards must have certain security features to prevent counterfeiting. Physical locations where licenses and IDs are issued must be secure, as well as the card stock they use. Front line employees must be trained in fraudulent document recognition to thwart impostors using counterfeit source material.