The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles said Wednesday that it has issued 3.75 million federally approved credentials, known as REAL IDs, as the agency marks the one year anniversary.
The state released the numbers, representing a 67% compliance rate, one year after the cards were required for boarding domestic flights.
State officials declined to comment. But Michael Gayzagian, president of AFGE local 2617, the TSA officers union in New England, said transition to the new identification cards has been relatively easy.
“It’s been surprisingly smooth,” he said. “We really thought that the public might have some problems adjusting to the rules and they haven’t.”
The cards are required, in place of a traditional state driver’s license, for anybody 18 years of age or older to take flights or enter certain federal buildings and military bases. A valid U.S. passport is a legal alternative.
Since 2018, the state has been offering REAL IDs to people who qualify. To obtain the card, which meets the Federal Security Standard for IDs, people need to provide proof of lawful presence, Massachusetts residency, and a Social Security number. The process can take two weeks to receive the credential once an application is approved.
Last year, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, Colleen Ogilvie, posted on the state website that she was “thrilled” about the progress and hoped to see numbers rise.
“If you still don’t have a REAL ID, and you qualify, we encourage you to go to Mass.Gov/REALID and make a plan for getting one,” she said. ”We are here to serve you, so you can meet the federal requirement.”
The federally approved IDs are identifiable by a star in the upper right corner. A standard Massachusetts driver’s license, without the star, remains valid for driving, but cannot be used for federal identification.
All states are currently issuing federally compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. If a person at the airport does not have a REAL ID or passport, they can be subject to additional screening and required to pay a $45 fee.
Gayzagian said his union — which represents 2,300 union officers working in 23 airports in New England — said his members have heard few complaints from passengers, although some have had to pay extra to fly. He encourages those who have still failed to obtain the new documents to make the effort and save time.
“They should all go out and get the real ID or at least get a passport,” he said. ”It just makes it easier for all parties involved.”
