New law permits Missouri Real ID-compliant driver's licenses

Gov. Eric Greitens on Monday signed a law aimed at averting a scenario in which Missouri residents could have been turned away at airports for lack of valid identification documents.

The legislation signed Monday will give residents the option to get driver's licenses or other identification cards that comply with the federal Real ID Act. Congress passed that law in the wake of terrorists' attacks with hijacked jets in New York City and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001.

Compliance with the tougher proof-of-identity requirements is necessary at airports, some federal facilities and military bases. The federal government said Missouri licenses wouldn't be valid at airports in 2018 if they're not compliant. Some military facilities already don't accept them.

Some lawmakers raised concerns about privacy over the federal law's requirement that states retain license personal documents, such as birth certificates. Proponents of Real ID say states already have archives of birth certificates, and federal and state governments already have personal information from documents such as income tax returns, Social Security records, and passports.

Missouri lawmakers banned state compliance with Real ID in 2009.

The new law undoes that. It takes effect on Aug. 28 with most other laws approved by the Legislature and governor this year.

The Missouri Department of Revenue told lawmakers in hearings this spring that it could be ready to comply with the law by Aug. 28. However, a DOR representative said Monday that they don't know when license offices will be ready to start issuing Real ID - compliant licenses.

We contacted Greitens' office about when the new Real ID - complaint licenses would be available.

"The first step is to apply for a waiver from the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that Missourians are not prevented from entering military bases or planes using their current IDs. Now that we have demonstrated our commitment to action on this issue, we should be able to get a waiver. Then the Department of Revenue will be able to begin issuing new IDs that are compliant. It will take some time to begin that process," said Parker Briden, a spokesman for the governor, in an email message.