Do you have a real ID?
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
Midland, Michigan
May 14, 2021 7:33am CST
I discovered this is something Michigan is doing to comply with federal regulations to fly within our own Homeland. When I first read about it I thought it was a separate ID that every state was doing and that they would all look alike.
For those that have never seen other states ID's or drivers licenses they are all different. Different colors, and the information on them are located in different places although the information is the same. Most now have a type of barcode on the back that can be scanned when buying alcohol. Although some states have more than one barcode so it's hard knowing which one to scan.
Anyway, recently I got a renewal form in the mail that I had to make an appointment for a license to take an eye exam and get a new picture. It asked did I want the real ID? It said the real ID's went into effect sometime in 2023 when everyone would be required to have one to fly anywhere.
I figured might as well. I began answering the questions in drop down lists on which forms of ID I'd bring with me. When it talked about marriage and divorce papers I changed my mind and decided to do it at a later date.
I then thought about writing an informative article about this for a different site so I googled it and discovered it's a Michigan thing. I also discovered that the real ID means a yellow or gold star is located at the top right of the license.
I already have that.
I found it odd that it wasn't explained about the gold star to begin with. I would have taken all those forms of identification only too discover it was something I already had. So I've been explaining it to people when I check their ID for alcohol. Some have heard about it but most have not.
For those of you living in the USA does your ID or drivers license have a good star on them and if they do has it been that way for many years already? I've had mine for four years.
13 people like this
12 responses
@thislittlepennyearns (63442)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
14 May 21
They've been doing real id here since 2011
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
14 May 21
I don't really know when it started here. I knew about the gold star addition but never knew it was called a 'real ID' before. Maybe it started back then but wasn't made mandatory until recently.
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@LadyDuck (472454)
• Switzerland
15 May 21
@MarshaMusselman We need an ID since we reach the age of 18. I see what this has to do with good people or bad people an ID is necessary to prove your real identity, even if your are a criminal, they must know who you are.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
15 May 21
@LadyDuck those that live here but weren't born here have an ID but I don't think they get the star on it. It may be more of the ones that could be associated with terrorist activities.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
14 May 21
To get this special ID here you need the specific data. Once you have the star on the license the data can remain at home. In the future they may find that these special ID's didn't didn't keep out the bad people as planned.
1 person likes this
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@BelleStarr (61155)
• United States
15 May 21
I have a passport so
I didn’t bother with the enhanced id
1 person likes this
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@BelleStarr (61155)
• United States
15 May 21
@MarshaMusselman Yah but I will always have a passport so I am cool.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
16 May 21
@BelleStarr I have a passport now but I'm not sure that I'll always have one.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
15 May 21
The real ID is different than an enhanced id but both have stars in the upper right corner. Eventually you'll need a starred ID or a passport just to fly within the USA, if I'm understanding it correctly.
1 person likes this
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@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
15 May 21
Our licenses renew every four years. Mine renewed again this year, so I would have gotten mine four years ago. I just don't remember what was said about why the added star and I'm sure I didn't hear the term real ID.
And I don't remember being totally period of who I am either.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
17 May 21
@DianneN they may have become compliant sooner.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247183)
• United States
16 May 21
@MarshaMusselman We got ours in Florida when we registered as residents. Earlier in CT, we had an option, but not in FL.
1 person likes this
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@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
14 May 21
Does your license include a star on the right top too?
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
15 May 21
@just4him if have to look too see whether I have that.
1 person likes this
@just4him (318962)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
15 May 21
@MarshaMusselman I'll need to look. I know I have a transparent photo in the middle.
1 person likes this
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@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
16 May 21
We're need our IDs when buying larger properties like homes or vehicles.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71157)
• United States
14 May 21
I don’t have one. I have a military ID so I shouldn’t need one before my license is up for renewal. And, like JJ, I’m not going anywhere I need one.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
14 May 21
I believe a visa works just as well too just like your military ID, since one needs extra forms of ID to get those too.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83683)
• United States
14 May 21
We have the real ID here in PA but I haven't gotten it yet. My license isn't up for renewal until the end of the year so I'll think about it then.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
14 May 21
Here they cost the same as an old license did but if you get one when your not up for renewal then you pay the same here but twice. Once for the normal license and again for the real ID.
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
14 May 21
So then it's not just a Michigan thing. That's good to know.
I drive to closer states but I've flown to my brothers in the recent past and we went on a cruise last year before covid-19 broke out and we had to fly to new Orleans to board the ship.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
14 May 21
I may not need one either but I won't know until then and it's easier to renew to the same thing in case more is needed down the road for proof.
@Belexhanns (3431)
• Kampala, Uganda
14 May 21
Here its mandatory for everyone to have an id
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
14 May 21
Most of us here have IDs and for those that don't drive anymore or have never driven they can get an ID instead of a license but these are different. These prove you are a citizen and are trying to root out those intending to harm others.
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