Just One Month Left Before Alabama’s STAR IDs Are Required to Fly

Citizens of Alabama have just one month left to go get their STAR ID cards before enforcement of federal law begins and you can't fly without one.

A new reminder came Monday from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, who pointed out that enforcement of the REAL ID Act of 2005 will finally begin in a month, on May 7th.

The 20-year-old federal law requires that anyone looking to enter a secure government facility or board a flight - even a domestic flight - must have an identification card that meets higher standards older IDs required.

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In Alabama, the state introduced the STAR ID and began offering them in 2012 to meet the new requirements, but enforcement of the 2005 law saw postponement after postponement, and the COVID pandemic extended them even further.

Now state officials say enforcement is set to begin next month and residents MUST get their STAR ID to enter federal facilities or board a flight.

“Currently, citizens who fly domestic are able to use their regular driver licenses or other photo identity cards issued by their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to board a plane,” explained Holley Cook, Director of ALEA’s Driver License Division. “However, the REAL ID Act changes this. If you plan to use your state-issued ID or driver license to fly within the U.S. then it must be REAL ID compliant after May 7, 2025. In Alabama, the REAL ID is known as a STAR ID.”

Regular Alabama driver licenses are still available and can be used for driving, voting and other activities, but it will no longer suffice as a REAL ID - you won't be able to use it to board a flight or enter government facilities.

The STAR ID costs the same as a driver license, but requires extra paperwork to verify your identity.

Learn more in the full press release here.

The fast-approaching deadline is also leading to long waits at local officers as procrastinators across Alabama scramble to get right.

“As we approach the May 7, enforcement date, we continue to see an influx of citizens coming into our local examining offices. We ask everyone to use patience when visiting our offices, said Director of ALEA’s Department of Public Safety Jonathan Archer. "We also want to clarify that May 7, simply begins the official enforcement period and is not the last day an individual can obtain their STAR ID. This date is the federal enforcement date of the REAL ID Act and citizens who have not obtained their STAR ID, will still have that ability even after May 7.”

For more coverage of news from across west Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.