TENNESSEE TO BEGIN OFFERING REAL-ID-COMPLIANT CARDS IN JULY
Starting July 1, Tennessee will give residents the option to upgrade their driver’s licenses to the new federally mandated Real-ID-compliant cards.
Effective October 1, 2020, Real-ID cards will be required to fly on airplanes, enter military bases or gain access to federal buildings.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security said Tennesseans won’t be required to get the upgraded driver’s licenses, but Real-ID is designed to make driver’s licenses less susceptible to forgery by requiring proof of U.S. residency. It requires states to retain copies of identification documents, like birth certificates.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns over the state’s ability to provide adequate resources to handle possible increased DMV lines; the department says they have sufficient time to handle the demand.