MONROE— Louisianians can still use their driver’s licenses to fly commercial airlines Friday, despite the state’s failure to comply with the federal REAL ID law.
Though the state secured a yearlong extension in October to comply with REAL ID, The News-Star reports there remains some confusion among people who feared the requirement would kick in for Louisiana on Jan. 1 as previously scheduled.
Had the state not received the extension, Louisianians would have needed a passport to fly in 2016.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 as a preventive measure against terrorist attacks like 9/11 with specific requirements for state-issued driver’s licenses. Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York, as well as American Samoa, are the only states and territory that have failed to comply.