Snohomish County residents rushing to become REAL ID compliant

LYNNWOOD — Time is running out for travelers to become REAL ID compliant.

By May 7, all travelers must be REAL-ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.

In 2005, Congress approved the REAL ID Act, which enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to establish minimum security standards for all driver’s licenses and identification cards. It was supposed to go into effect in 2008 but has been repeatedly delayed.

The deadline has created a bottleneck at Department of Licensing offices throughout Washington.

Advance appointments are tough to come by and longer lines more than usual are the norm at state licensing offices.

Departing of Licensing statistics show that only 28% Snohomish and King county residents — and 27% statewide — had a compliant driver’s license as of April 1.

Washington state’s so-called “enhanced driver’s license” is considered REAL ID compliant, and it allows people to travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean without a passport.

On April 15, a clerk at the Licensing office on Evergreen Way told customers not to come after 1:30 p.m. because the wait is up to four hours and their application could not be processed before the office’s 5 p.m. closing time.

Wieman said appointments were widely available several weeks ago.

Division of Licensing officials advise that before you panic about not having a compliant driver’s license and decide to brave long lines, consider whether you have other REAL ID compliant document. This could include a passport, military ID, green card or federally recognized tribal photo identification card.

“If you already have what you need, consider holding off on getting an enhanced document – if still desired – at least through the summer travel season,” said Rob Wieman, a spokesman for the state Department of Licensing.

Travelers who aren’t REAL ID compliant after May 7 face the possibility of being turned away at airport checkpoints and other headaches, said TSA spokeswoman Lorie Dankers said in an email.

“Starting May 7, passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative, such as a Passport or passport card, can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint if their identity cannot be verified,” she said.

Travel expert Joe Brancatelli, who publishes the business travel website Joe Sent Me, said he expects the TSA will issue written warnings to travelers without REAL IDs during the first several years of its implementation.

“I would be surprised if they prevented someone from traveling,” he said.

On the other hand, Brancatelli said it might be uncomfortable for travelers who could see themselves be subject to extended search.

“I call it TSA political theater,” he said.

Ultimately, he said, this could also lead to travelers, with and without REAL ID compliant documents, subject to security screening delays, particularly at large airports, such as Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

If you do plan to go to a Department of Licensing Office for a REAL ID compliant license you might want to go sooner rather than later. Wieman said the offices may get more crowded as the summer travel season approaches.

No appointments were available in Snohomish County as of Monday morning.

Wieman said motorists can still visit licensing offices as long as they are patient.

“Customers walking in without an appointment should expect a long wait,” Wieman said.

Michael Monroe, of Edmonds, waited patiently in line outside the Lynnwood licensing office Thursday morning — one of 75 people waiting to get inside the office. An office representative came outside to him that the his wait would be an hour to an hour and a half until he reached an inside desk to begin filling out the forms for an enhanced driver’s license.

Once people complete the forms, it’s another wait before an employee processes their application and takes their photo.

Then it’s at least another two weeks before the enhanced driver’s license arrives in the mail.

Monroe, who is from Edmonds, said he tried to get an appointment.

“I tried to book an appointment. You can’t book an appointment anywhere,” he said.

Monroe, who is in sales, said he travels domestically once a month for business. He holds a passport, which can be used as a REAL ID, but he said a driver’s license offers redundancy.

“In case I misplace one,” he said.

A licensing office representative handed out a sheet listing the requirements for the REAL ID, and everyone in line rifled through their papers, making sure they would not be turned away.

To get an enhanced driver’s license in Washington state, applicants must provide proof of citizenship, identity and proof of residency.

Randy Diamond: 425-339-3097; randy.diamond@heraldnet.com.