No REAL ID? That'll be $18.

I got mine changed the first time they were beating the drup that you had to do it by X date. I had recently renewed my license too, but wanted to be sure. I already had a passport and Global Entry cart oo - both of which were real IDs, but I don't want to carry them for domestic travel. Anyway, I got it done, and then they extended the date - again, and again, and again. It was easy here, but I know some states make it more difficult. We have had several sessions where the people come to our office and set up tables - you can sign up for an appointment and do it there, which is nice. I guess we're a little ahead of the curve here in Tennessee - so that'd be ONE thing. 🤣
 
Do they issue real ID's for non-drivers, then?

I upgraded my license last time I renewed it, so this doesn't affect me directly, but I am curious. - There are plenty of people who don't drive, but do travel (people with certain vision issues, for instance, or who live in big cities and simply don't need a car). How does it work for them?
Yes. My son has had a state issued ID (not a real ID but same rules) sine he was nine years old. DD has had a real ID for a few years even though she is not driving yet. A real ID can be a non drivers ID
 

The federal law was passed 20 years ago, in 2005. State governments at the very least knew about it then, even if citizens didn’t.

Any complaints about not being able to get them should be directed to each state. Enlist your federal representatives about the problems if needed.
Of course it’s directed to our state, but it stinks to be disparaged for not having real id by folks who very likely wouldn’t have it either if they lived here. NJ MVC is one of the worst organizations that has ever existed, real id is the tip of the iceberg regarding complaints. My last in person license renewal took a year to get an appointment, and still took 3 hours. In 2020 there were no appointments and 12+ hour waits every single day.
 
...just another money-maker....
I doubt it. It will probably take more than $18 worth of TSA agents' time to look up all the information on someone who doesn't have a Real ID.

BTW, I've seen a couple of comments in this thread that use the present tense about this option. Note from the original posting that this is just a proposed program; you can't pay $18 today to have TSA run a security check on you. Here are the current TSA guidelines for people who don't have a Real ID:

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification
 
Where have these been around for 20 years?

Like I said, I do have mine, but I just upgraded recently when my license came up for renewal. I looked up my state, and they've only been an option here for 7 years.
The program was rolled out in 2005. I got mine in 2012 when I came up for renewal. I live in CT

Edit from 2011 to 2012 I found my old license.
 
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I think I got my Real ID in 2017? I'm not sure, I'm in MD - but I've had my Passport since I was a kid (in my 50's now) so it wasn't ever really a issue. I don't see the big issue though - this is a proposed fee, not a set in stone, fixed cost at this time, so the title of this post is a tad alarmist.... And unless you've been under a rock this can't be news to anyone. I mean, we all have a choice if we want to fly.
 
Obtaining a REAL ID in PA is such a hassle that I've opted to carry my passport even when traveling domestically. It's easier to renew and doesn't require me to jump thru hoops to prove that I am who I am.

I'm not denying your experience in any way. It's just interesting because my husband and I got ours (during COVID) and it was a simple and quick experience as long as long as you brought the documents they required. Granted, I brought every piece of paperwork we had that they could possibly ask for because I did not want to have to come back. We waited less than an hour and were done at the window in 15mins for the both of us. Especially surprising because we live in Philly and lord knows how inefficient the city can be. I also anticipated it being more complicated because I needed to document 2 name changes. It is ridiculous how people's experiences vary and what is being required across DMVs even in the same state is not consistent.

I do know people in NY who sat 12 hours at the DMV and never were even called to the counter called at all multiple times. During this time my parents also moved to NJ and getting an appt at DMV was over a year out. It was really stressing my dad out (even though he could no longer drive anyway) because he was terrified my mom, who was his primary caretaker, would have a problem despite us all reassuring him it was fine. So people not having Real IDs may very well not be because they are lazy or do not want to comply.
 
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