# TSA require your U.S. driver's license to have a star to fly in 2020... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 25, 2019, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496 "2019-05-25T06:38:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/41 "2019-05-25T14:59:50Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > The address that you hand wrote, is used for the exact purpose as you described in your story. It’s to help return the lost passport to you. Passport holders are told to write this information in pencil. Not ink. > > If you actually think that this hand written, penciled, information provided by the individual carries the same implied authenticity as an address on a driver’s license, then I don’t think I know how to respond to that. implied authenticity? I never claimed that. I claimed that it’s handy for both the passport and the license to reflect my address, but there’s no critical need for either to. If they have the wrong address, I don’t get my passport back, or the ticket doesn’t get mailed to me (and i might lose my license.) I see no need to verify either. And i don’t see why, “it’s printed!” makes such a huge difference to you. > [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Do you actually hold the position that information on state IDs and licenses should not be uniformly verified in order to be federally accepted as a means of identification? Do any of you actually believe that? > > If you _do_ think that they should be uniformly verified, and since they all have address on them, why shouldn’t the states be required to verify the address? I am interested in understanding this. But if really seems logical that if states are going to include information on their IDs, that information should be verified. > Those of you who disagree with this. Is it because there is some fundamental right that you feel is being violated? Or do you just think that it is too inconvenient, and not worth the trouble. Is that the argument? That the benefit to the government and society is not worth the inconvenience to the individual? I think it’s vastly inconvenient. It took my mother an extra few weeks to get a new license, and a great deal of hassle to collect the relevant documents. I don’t have a social security card. I lost it decades ago. I’m not looking forward to having to deal with the paperwork to get a new one. And I have a house and lots of bills. Many people have no easy way to prove residence. Some don’t HAVE a fixed residence. Should they not be allowed to fly? Should they be second class citizens every time they produce ID? Why? What purpose is served that is so valuable that most of us are inconvenienced and some are screwed? All you’ve said is “don’t you want consistency? Don’t you want every printed item to be verified as true at the time it was printed?” And my answer is, “no, why should i care about either of those?” > [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Well, I don’t really care about having an “effective RealID system.” If the law were repealed tomorrow I’d sleep perfectly soundly,… Yup. I, too, will sleep perfectly soundly it this law goes away before being implemented. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/42 "2019-05-25T15:34:03Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Those inconveniences (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) are the same for a passport. I thought we were complaining about needing to show proof of address? You almost had me convinced that this was the real argument. Now you’re saying that we shouldn’t require people to prove who they are at all. That seems like the bare minimum requirement for issuing identification–verifying identity. > If you want to use your driver’s license as a Federal ID card, then you need to establish who you are, under the same scrutiny as a passport requires. > If you don’t want to use it in that manner, then you don’t need to get the RealID. Just tell your state you don’t want a RealID and get the license without the star. But don’t complain that the federal government doesn’t accept it. I don’t have a problem with the idea of verifying identity. I have a problem with the statement that it’s a “minimal inconvenience” to get the documents required for a real ID/passport when until fairly recently , many people didn’t need such IDs. Even now, there are people who don’t need them - until they do. And there they are at 60 or 70 trying to locate birth certificates and marriage certificates and divorce decrees from decades ago. I’m not saying it’s impossible- but it can be too time-consuming and expensive to be fairly described as a “minimal inconvenience.” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/43 "2019-05-25T15:39:05Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Finding the tiniest loophole available to hand out guns based on someone’s frayed handwritten pool pass proves that it’s right to have arbitrary standards in other areas, such as for what documents you need to provide to get airplane-level citizenship. > > Good lord. I once lost my photo ID while traveling. I got to the airport early and psychologically prepared for uncertainty and frustration. The high resolution photo I had of my primary photo ID were not acceptable, they wouldn’t even look at them. They reviewed several forms of secondary ID but still wanted something, anything, with a photo. Several years before I had done some work at a construction site and the construction company had issued me a photo ID, no info on it except my name and my clients name. When I pulled that from my wallet they were very pleased and after a thorough search I was allowed to board the plane. I’m pretty sure the reaction would have been the same if it had been an old battered pool pass. I still think the “something, anything, with a photo” requirement was strange, but that seems to be how they roll, ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/44 "2019-05-25T16:08:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > According to[Pennsylvania’s REAL ID page,](https://www.dmv.pa.gov/REALID/Pages/REAL-ID-Document-Check.aspx) you need a SS Card. Dang. I have seen my social security card in at least 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/45 "2019-05-25T16:12:45Z")
I just signed for for Clear. At the airports they’re operating, I don’t have to show any ID. Will that change? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/46 "2019-05-25T16:17:22Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I don’t have a problem with the idea of verifying identity. I have a problem with the statement that it’s a “minimal inconvenience” to get the documents required for a real ID/passport when until fairly recently , many people didn’t need such IDs. Even now, there are people who don’t need them - until they do. And there they are at 60 or 70 trying to locate birth certificates and marriage certificates and divorce decrees from decades ago. I’m not saying it’s impossible- but it can be too time-consuming and expensive to be fairly described as a “minimal inconvenience.” It seems to me, that the documents that are most difficult to obtain, are the documents proving identity–birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. These documents have always been required for federal-level identification, such as the passport book and the passport card. The federal government can and should require that level of verification for any ID that it might accept in the course of business. If someone doesn’t want to use their state issued ID card or driver’s license to interact with the federal government, then the whole thing is a moot point. If they do want to identify themselves to the federal government, then they either need to get a federal level form of identification, or a state ID that complies with RealID standards. Either way, they’re going to have to dig out birth certificates and marriage certificates, etc. Describing the RealID process as minimally inconvenient, I’m talking about the _additional_ paperwork like proof of address (your earlier example not withstanding). The identity paperwork would be required, regardless. So the fact that finding that paperwork is a terrible burden to some people isn’t really relevant. It would be difficult regardless. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/47 "2019-05-25T16:28:04Z")
I recently had to renew my drivers license because I hit a javelina while driving. Long, convoluted story. It seems to me they wanted a local utility bill with my name and address, I don’t have that, can’t get it. So passport for me. How do I get a passport card, googs keeps bring up weird ass sites for me. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/48 "2019-05-25T16:36:04Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > I recently had to renew my drivers license because I hit a javelina while driving. Long, convoluted story. It seems to me they wanted a local utility bill with my name and address, I don’t have that, can’t get it. So passport for me. How do I get a passport card, googs keeps bring up weird ass sites for me. It’s the same application process as the renewing passport book. Complete a [Form DS-82](https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds82.pdf), and mail it in with your passport book, the fees, and a photograph. They will return your passport book and send you the passport card in separate mailings. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/49 "2019-05-25T16:41:20Z")
I had to get a US drivers license last fall. The DMV would not accept my green card confirmation letter as proof of address. It’s printed on special stock with all kinds of fine patterns and crap and show that the feds have vetted me up and down and halfway to Sunday, but no. They did accept a printout of my bank account statement, because those are impossible to forge, I guess? Since they require two pieces of mail for the real ID, and only one for the regular license, and since I have to carry my green card anyway, I decided I didn’t care. I just don’t do things by regular mail, and utilities are in my wife’s name … _grumbles about backwards, analog countries_ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/50 "2019-05-25T17:04:41Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Dang. I have seen my social security card in at least 30 years. California at least lets you use SS card, 1099 form, paycheck stub with full SSN, and a few others. Like you, I haven’t seen my card in decades. Like 8 houses ago. Sigh. Just another bit of bullshit if you want to fly. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/51 "2019-05-25T17:17:07Z")
My California driver’s license is up for renewal in a few months. I’m really on the fence about this. On one hand, if I don’t get a RealID license, I can renew it online and don’t have to go to the DMV, but then I have to carry my passport every time I fly. But if I do get a RealID license, I have to go down to the DMV, which is pretty unpleasant but I don’t know if it’s unpleasant enough to outweigh years of traveling with a passport. My passport also expires in about a year; maybe I’ll just get a passport card when I renew my passport as a compromise. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/52 "2019-05-25T17:21:53Z")
I got the star on my drivers license when I moved to Florida. Or, rather, two months later when I had built up a few utility bills. I haven’t used my DL as ID at an airport since I got a Passport. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/53 "2019-05-25T17:57:46Z")
> [@naita](#): > > I just don’t do things by regular mail, and utilities are in my wife’s name … > _grumbles about backwards, analog countries_ A utility in your wife’s name is fine as long as you have a marriage license. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/54 "2019-05-25T18:17:23Z")
People should have a right to travel on an airplane the same way they have a right to travel by walking. It should be no more inconvenient in terms of proving your right to travel. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/55 "2019-05-25T18:35:09Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > It seems to me, that the documents that are most difficult to obtain, are the documents proving identity–birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. These documents have always been required for federal-level identification, such as the passport book and the passport card. The federal government can and should require that level of verification for any ID that it might accept in the course of business. > If someone doesn’t want to use their state issued ID card or driver’s license to interact with the federal government, then the whole thing is a moot point. If they do want to identify themselves to the federal government, then they either need to get a federal level form of identification, or a state ID that complies with RealID standards. Either way, they’re going to have to dig out birth certificates and marriage certificates, etc. > Describing the RealID process as minimally inconvenient, I’m talking about the _additional_ paperwork like proof of address (your earlier example not withstanding). The identity paperwork would be required, regardless. So the fact that finding that paperwork is a terrible burden to some people isn’t really relevant. It would be difficult regardless. Did you even read my reply to you? I’m complaining about the proof of address and the SSN, not the proof of identity. And that’s what was hard for my mom, too. > [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > A utility in your wife’s name is fine as long as you have a marriage license. are you out of your mind? Who the hell keeps a marriage license around? I’ve never had a physical copy of that. I signed it at the wedding, gave it to the officiant (who presumably filled it with the town) and went off on my honey moon. That’s the last time i touched it. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/56 "2019-05-25T18:36:23Z")
And what if you live with roommates to whom you are not legally married? Lots of people do that, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/57 "2019-05-25T18:55:02Z")
So now you need a special paper to board an airplane? Hmm. Guess I won’t be getting on an airplane anymore. Do you need that special paper to buy weed? If not, maybe I’ll just change my method of flying. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/58 "2019-05-25T19:08:41Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > A utility in your wife’s name is fine as long as you have a marriage license. Maybe in your state- not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/59 "2019-05-25T19:21:34Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And what if you live with roommates to whom you are not legally married? Lots of people do that, you know. Look man, I’m not saying that a utility bill should be the end all and be all of address confirmation. Yes, there should be options available for people who don’t have bills. I’m not sure what options _are_ available (certainly, some methods must be available). I could think of several common sense ways to verify it. Hell, they could simply mail you the license to your stated address instead of giving it to you at the office. That would verify you can receive mail at, and are affiliated in some way with that address. All I’m saying is that it is not absurd for the state to require an address on a driver’s license, and it is not unreasonable for the federal government to mandate that the information be verified. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496/60 "2019-05-25T19:24:19Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And what if you live with roommates to whom you are not legally married? Lots of people do that, you know. Then you use your bank statement. Lots of people use banks, you know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-require-your-u-s-drivers-license-to-have-a-star-to-fly-in-2020/834496.md?page=4)