Lines stretched outside Milwaukee’s downtown Division of Motor Vehicles location as travelers scrambled to get their Real ID as the deadline to obtain one expired May 7.
Applications for a Real ID slammed Milwaukee’s DMV as wait times ballooned to nearly an hour Wednesday afternoon at the downtown branch, on 6th Street.
One person in line, Isaiah Jackson sat perched outside the door at 12:30 p.m., waiting for nearly an hour with four people still ahead of him. Without an alternative TSA-approved ID, he was there to update his ID because he’s leaving town soon. Another resident, Kristen DeCato, said she’d been there a half hour, and had procrastinated getting her Real ID, but was able to fit it into her schedule May 7.
DMV staff told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that it’s seen about double the amount of normal traffic every day during the week of May 4 as Wisconsinites attempted to meet the May 7 deadline.
Meanwhile, lines at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport were moving quickly Wednesday morning. About 40 people received additional screening amid the morning rush on May 7, but no one was turned away, Wisconsin TSA stakeholder manager Frank Pipia told the Journal Sentinel. “It’s going great. Almost everyone is compliant,” he said.
Starting May 7, people 18 and older must have a Real ID compliant driver’s license or other TSA-approved identification to fly domestically. Passengers who do not have a Real ID or other acceptable alternatives will face additional screenings and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint, confirmed spokesperson Jessica Mayle.
Local TSA will have the flexibility to decide which extra screenings to give each passenger without a compliant ID. Additional screenings could include a pat down or inspection of property, said Pipia.
TSA did not report any impact to wait times at the airport as of 10 a.m. May 7, although Pipia said that could change if there’s an influx of passengers without proper ID. Currently, 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints have an acceptable identification, including a state-issued Real ID.
How to get a Real ID in Wisconsin:
To obtain a Real ID in Wisconsin, you’ll need to go to your local DMV and won’t be able to complete the process online. You can visit the DMV’s website at dlguides.wi.gov to start filling on the necessary forms.
The price to get a Real ID in Wisconsin is the same as getting or renewing a regular driver’s license — $34. A regular photo ID costs $28.
What is the current wait time at the DMV?
You can check to see what the current wait time is at your Milwaukee-area DMV here.
Are there any alternatives to the Real ID?
TSA will accept the following forms of identification in place of a Real ID:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Real ID deadline has passed. Here’s how it’s affecting wait times at Milwaukee’s airport and the DMV
Reporting by Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
