If you have a court date looming or a legal situation hanging over your head, you might be thinking about a quick getaway (Disclaimer–My legal advice is not to flee). But before you book that flight, there is a major security hurdle you need to clear—and it’s not just the TSA line.
Does Your ID Have the Star on It?
Currently, and especially at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (that’s the Atlanta airport for those of you who aren’t from the South), a standard driver’s license won’t be enough to get you past security for domestic flights. You need a REAL ID-compliant card.
Look at your license right now. It MUST have a gold or black star in the upper right-hand corner. If you don’t see that star, your ID won’t work for air travel anymore (and you’ll get caught doing what you shouldn’t be doing).
The “Paper License” Trap
If your license is currently suspended, revoked, or you are just waiting on a renewal (because you are on a limited permit, etc), you probably have a temporary paper license. The TSA does NOT accept temporary paper licenses or IDs for air travel anymore.
Your Options if You Only Have Paper
If you are dealing with a suspension or license issue but still need to travel, you have two main options:
- A Valid U.S. Passport: This remains a valid form of identification for air travel.
- A State ID Card: You can apply for a non-driver identification card at a DMV location that is REAL ID-compliant.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Permanent plastic licenses are mailed and can take up to 30 days to arrive. If you have a legal case that might affect your license, or if you’re planning a trip, make sure your ID situation is handled well in advance. Generally, I recommend that all of my clients get an identification card.
Have fun on your…eh…(round) trip.
Learn more at the Georgia DDS website here
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