California identification cards have changed.
The state passed a law to implement the federal REAL ID standards, which will alter California IDs and driver’s licenses. Although not required at the moment, this change will become required on Oct. 1, 2020.
The US REAL ID standards are a set of federal requirements for identification cards, including driver’s licenses. The REAL ID requirements were created in 2005 under the federal REAL ID Act in order to increase the minimum security requirements for identification.
This act was passed with the intention to increase national security through DHS transportation regulation in response to the Sept. 11 attacks. However, although the REAL ID Act set the federal standards for IDs, state compliance is voluntary for state provided identification.
Because of the voluntary nature of the REAL ID, California has only recently opted to comply with the standards, with REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and IDs becoming available on Jan. 22 of this this year.
It is important to remember the actual uses of REAL IDs. REAL IDs are only needed for federal identification, which are most commonly used for the TSA, military, and federal institutions.
