BOISE -- State officials say the federal government has granted Idaho a one-year extension to comply with federal REAL ID rules.
A letter was received Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It says during the extension, federal agencies may accept Idaho-issued driver's licenses and identification cards for official purposes.
Idaho is one of numerous states and territories at various stages of compliance with REAL ID.
"The Idaho Transportation Department is moving forward with security features to ensure our identification cards are as safe and secure as possible," said ITD Chief Deputy Scott Stokes. "We have a great partnership with Gen. Richy and the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security. They have provided valuable insight for us as we work to enhance the security of Idaho's ID cards and licenses."
The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, is an effort to make driver licenses less susceptible to counterfeit or forgery. Starting in 2016, such beefed-up ID will be required to board commercial aircraft, though the federal government hasn't given a firm timeline on access to flights.
