New Jersey gets 9-month extension to meet new ID rules

Missouri residents soon will not be able to use their state driver's licenses as identification to get into most federal facilities, making it one of at least five states to lose a federal exemption from complying with national proof-of-identity requirements.

"The Department of Homeland Security is working with state officials to ensure their compliance with REAL ID Act standards and to grant a state an extension where warranted".

"We have received an extension like many other states to comply, we have an ongoing dialogue with the U.S Department of Homeland Security", said Ray Martinez, the chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

According to the Department of Homeland Security's website 22 states and the District of Columbia are compliant with the rules, Illinois not being one of them. The department has said that it will provide at least 120-day advance notice before barring people from flights who have driver's licenses from states that are noncompliant or lack a waiver.

As of October 10, 2015, federal agencies may only accept driver's licenses and identification cards issued by states that are compliant with the REAL ID Act or have an extension for accessing most federal facilities (including military bases) and entering nuclear power plants.

Missouri was among several states that fought back by passing their own laws prohibiting compliance with Real ID.

For many travelers that make their way into General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport their drivers license is the go to form of ID to get through security when traveling within the United States.

The Homeland Security Department has said it plans to announce soon whether it will begin enforcing the Real ID requirements for airplane travel. Starting on January 10, 2016, driver's licenses and identification cards issued by Missouri and Illinois will not be accepted for these purposes.

"They also have some requirements with regard to maintaining records when somebody comes to apply for a license and that's because they found people were scamming with fraudulent id's from state to state". The law was passed in response to national security concerns after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. States were originally supposed to adopt the Real ID requirements by the end of 2009. Federal authorities have granted numerous exemptions to states in order to allow them time to change driver's license procedures and update technology.

Missouri passed a law specifically opposing compliance with the Real ID Act.