United States Real ID requirement takes effect May 8 for domestic air travel; TSA expects screening delays as only 56% of Ohioans have compliant identification

May 3, 2025 (The Plain Dealer) –

Cleveland Hopkins airport will have extra staff on hand next week to ensure a smooth start to the approaching deadline for Real ID.

Starting Wednesday, travelers flying within the United States will need to show a Real ID, or another form of compliant identification, to board an airplane.

Currently, just more than 56% of Ohioans have a Real ID, which are more secure and harder to counterfeit than standard driver’s licenses.

To check whether your ID is compliant, look for a star in the upper-right corner.

“If you’re traveling at all this summer, take Real ID seriously,” said Jim Garrity , director of public affairs for AAA East Central , at a press conference Friday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport . “The deadline is here and there’s no indication it is going to be pushed back. Get your documents ready sooner rather than later.”

The Transportation Security Administration is anticipating screening delays and long lines at airports across the country next week, said agency spokeswoman Jessica Mayle .

Travelers without compliant IDs — which also include passports, military IDs, trusted traveler cards and a half-dozen other documents — will be subject to additional screening and could be turned away.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth operation,” she said.

“This is a busy time for airports across the country.”

Megan O’Connell, assistant director of marketing, communications and guest experience for Cleveland Hopkins, said the airport will have extra staff on hand starting early Wednesday morning to help. They’ll be talking with travelers standing in TSA lines, asking if they have a Real ID or another compliant ID.

If they don’t — or aren’t sure —they’ll be given a bright orange card which will indicate to TSA screeners that more time may be needed to vet these travelers.

The goal, said O’Connell, is for non-compliant travelers not to hold up travelers who have the required IDs.

“I’m optimistic,” she said. “The majority of Ohioans have compliant IDs.

“We want people to be as prepared as they can be and not have a surprise when they get here.”

A spot check of a half-dozen travelers at Cleveland Hopkins on Friday morning found all with compliant IDs.

“I had it years ago,” said Clevelander Robert Jursinski, en route to Boston . “People who fly with some frequency are aware.”

Still, he said, he’s certain not everyone has been paying attention.

“It’s human nature. People like to put things off.”

The law requiring the new, more secure identification was passed in 2005, a result of the 9/11 attacks. It was initially set to go into effect in 2008, although it’s been delayed numerous times since.

The new licenses and IDs are more secure and harder to counterfeit, but require more paperwork to obtain, including two items that show state residency, proof of Social Security number and more.

In Ohio , residents must apply for a Real ID in person, with documents showing full legal name, date of birth, legal presence in the U.S. , Social Security number and Ohio street address. (For a list of acceptable documents: bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx)

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is offering extended hours today to encourage more Ohioans to apply.

Mayle said that the paper receipt or temporary license that you receive at the BMV while you wait for your new ID to arrive in the mail is not compliant and is not enough to get you on board an airplane.

She suggested that travelers bring their expired IDs with them if they have them.

For a list of TSA -acceptable IDs: tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification