Connecticut

Get Your REAL ID: State Officials Pushing Drivers to Switch Over

The DMV issues around 160,000 licenses a year. As of right now, more than 1 million Connecticut drivers still need REAL ID.

Starting October 1, 2020, all passengers will be required to have REAL ID, or have a passport, in order to board a plane.

“REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the accuracy and reliability of the state issue driver’s license and identification cards,” said Jim Campbell of Bradley International Airport.

Connecticut started issuing gold star licenses in 2012.

“It prevents and deters terrorists’ ability do of evade detection by using fraudulent identification,” said William Bill Csontos, TSA federal security director of the State of Connecticut.

It requires extra identification documentation and there’s no additional cost. You can get it at places like the DMV and AAA.

“We have some major hurdles that we have to overcome to get everyone ready to go,” said Tony Guerrera, deputy commissioner with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The DMV issues around 160,000 licenses a year. As of right now, more than 1 million Connecticut drivers still need REAL ID.

Officials will be using signage and posting information on the DMV website with information about REAL ID.

“With a year to go, the DMV is really pushing to make sure that everyone in Connecticut has the right information to make sure we are able to get the real ID,” said Sibongile Magubane, Connecticut’s Commissioner for the DMV.

For a list of the documents needed to obtain a REAL ID, visit the DMV’s website at ct.gov/dmv.

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