AMTRAK and Real IDs

[jis]

Here anyone can buy a ticket, give to anyone, and it can be used without any ID hassles at all. That is not my impression of how it works in America with regards to I.D.
I don't suppose there are many Greyhound bus users on the forum, but do you "need ID" to travel on Greyhound too?

IIRC all this Id stuff came in vogue after 9/11 in the US.

 

[Stevenz]

Yeah, thats not profiling. Profinling is when shoplifting is up, so a security guard follows every black person who comes in the store, but none of the white people. Or when you hassle every brown skinned person in line because they "look like a terrorist"

I was being a tad bit facetious.

 

[Willbridge]

Here’s the answer…
https://www.greyhound.com/greyhound-terms-and-conditions-of-travel

Not sure whether they actually check…

I've never been checked on Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, Express Arrow, or Burlington Trailways. Several times my name has been called out by a driver reading a manifest, in order to make sure that seniors were allowed to board first.

 

[Asher]

Getting back to the topic of ID, we opted to get passport cards when we renewed our passports this year. That way we can use the card when traveling by air domestically or if we should decide to drive to Canada.

I explored the idea of Real ID and Enhanced ID when my driver's license was expiring. It would have been a royal pain to gather the required documents and the passport card serves the purpose for essentially the same cost as upgrading my boring basic driver's license.

You’re going to need it to fly domestic 05/07 2025

 

[zephyr17]

You’re going to need it to fly domestic 05/07 2025

@GariYaMoshi already said he has a passport card. That's compliant and all he'll need. He doesn't need Real ID DL, too.

Just like I'll use my NEXUS card and won't bother with a Real ID DL for myself. Which would have to be an Enhanced DL, since Washington only issues non-compliant regular licenses and EDLs.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Americans live in the land of the free, and are freely forced to show I.D.to travel on Amtrak. Here in Nanny State UK we are free to travel on trains without any I.D.

We do have many freedoms enshrined in law, but such protections can be strengthened or weakened to a surprising degree by reinterpretation of the SCOTUS.

 

[railiner]

We do have many freedoms enshrined in law, but such protections can be strengthened or weakened to a surprising degree by reinterpretation of the SCOTUS.

Sort of like the old mantra:
“Eternal vigilance, is the price of safety”…

 

[Qapla]

I don't fly so won't need a Real ID for that purpose ... but I do have the gold star on my Fl License, so I am good to go.

 

[Literalman]

"IIRC all this Id stuff came in vogue after 9/11 in the US," said jis. Yes, the REAL ID Act was passed in 2005. My Pa. driver's license isn't a "real ID." It's like train crews being "dead on the law." They're not really dead.

 

[Shanson]

Sorry if I'm late to the discussion, but aren't nearly all state DLs compliant with REAL ID? If there's a gold star on the license, it's REAL. I had never heard of an option to choose.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Sorry if I'm late to the discussion, but aren't nearly all state DLs compliant with REAL ID? If there's a gold star on the license, it's REAL. I had never heard of an option to choose.

At least in PA it was an option when I got my DL this year. I chose not to get the Real ID since I would just use a passport book or card when flying anyway.

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

Sorry if I'm late to the discussion, but aren't nearly all state DLs compliant with REAL ID? If there's a gold star on the license, it's REAL. I had never heard of an option to choose.

Not in Illinois, they aren't. Although the hubby and I will look into getting the REAL ID version of our IL DLs when it's time to renew.

 

[PaTrainFan]

At least in PA it was an option when I got my DL this year. I chose not to get the Real ID since I would just use a passport book or card when flying anyway.

Just saw a news story this morning that quoted PennDOT as saying that only 56% in the state have REAL ID compliant licenses. There are going to be a lot of flummoxed people come May 7. I didn't consider it a major inconvenience and got one when I last renewed my license. Admittedly, the $30 one time fee might be a bit of a pain point for many.

 

[snaebyllej]

At least in PA it was an option when I got my DL this year. I chose not to get the Real ID since I would just use a passport book or card when flying anyway.

Assuming that your passport isn't coming up for renewal soon, or what will you use for ID while it's being renewed? Passports have been taking forever to get renewed lately.

 

[Asher]

Zephyr pointed out that a real ID is not needed and that’s my bad and he is correct. I think making the effort to obtain a real ID is easier than carrying a passport at all times, especially on a train trip when you may need to fly home.

 

[Shanson]

So I figured it out. People who live in the US, but aren't US citizens, still have to be licensed to drive, but they won't qualify for REAL ID. This means two groups of license holders. In Texas (if I recall correctly) there was no extra fee, but at license renewal time, we had to bring birth certificate and other documentation to comply.

 

[zephyr17]

So I figured it out. People who live in the US, but aren't US citizens, still have to be licensed to drive, but they won't qualify for REAL ID. This means two groups of license holders. In Texas (if I recall correctly) there was no extra fee, but at license renewal time, we had to bring birth certificate and other documentation to comply.

Um, nope. People holding valid residency visas can get Real ID licenses. Both citizens and legal residents can get Real ID licenses.

What they cannot get are Enhanced Driver's Licenses. Only US citizens can get those because they serve as proof of citizenship and can be used as valid ID to cross land borders, which Real IDs can't.

Washington does not offer Real ID licenses. Non-citizens legally residing here can only get the "Federal Limits Apply" regular license. As can illegals, all Washington requires for a regular driver's license or state ID is proof of residency, Washington doesn't deal with or ask about immigration status. Which is why the state is not and will not offer simple Real ID licenses, only regular "Federal Limts Apply" licenses and EDLs requiring US citizenship (and which meet Real ID requirements as far as TSA is concerned).

Texas is not one of the very few states that offer EDLs, so it really makes no difference to you. You couldn't get an EDL anyway because Texas doesn't issue them.

I doubt Texas offers anything but Real ID licenses now (but don't know). Only a few states offer non-Real ID licenses once they come up for renewal. That's probably why you had to show your birth certificate and other documents when you renewed so your license could be renewed as Real ID (because Texas likely has no other options).

 

[zephyr17]

Zephyr pointed out that a real ID is not needed and that’s my bad and he is correct. I think making the effort to obtain a real ID is easier than carrying a passport at all times, especially on a train trip when you may need to fly home.

Sure, but I am not carrying my passport at all times and I doubt @GariYaMoshi does either, though I cannot speak for him.

I carry a plastic card that's the same size as a driver's license at all times that TSA will continue to accept as ID even after May 2025. My NEXUS card, which is always in my wallet. @GariYaMoshi can do the same with his passport card, another DL sized card that easily fits into a wallet and acceptable to TSA. Neither of us will need either a Real ID license or a passport to clear TSA checkpoints after May 2025.

I wasn't advocating carrying a passport simply to use for TSA, though that is certainly an option. There are many wallet sized cards that will continue to be acceptable to TSA, TSA Pre-Check, Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, Passport Cards among others. For those of us that live in those few states that will continue to offer non-Real ID compliant driver's licenses, and that also have other, TSA accepted wallet size IDs, do not need to bother to jump through hoops to get a Real ID compliant license just to clear TSA. We have non-passport alternatives to the Real ID license.

 

[zephyr17]

Sorry if I'm late to the discussion, but aren't nearly all state DLs compliant with REAL ID? If there's a gold star on the license, it's REAL. I had never heard of an option to choose.

Several states will continue to issue non-Real ID licenses indefinitely and in those states getting or not getting a Real ID one will continue to be a choice. Though they will not carry a gold star and will have something stating they are not Real ID. In Washington, regular licenses do not have a gold star and have "Federal Limits Apply" printed on them.

 

[GariYaMoshi]

Zephyr pointed out that a real ID is not needed and that’s my bad and he is correct. I think making the effort to obtain a real ID is easier than carrying a passport at all times, especially on a train trip when you may need to fly home.

That's why we got the passport card. It is the same size as the driver's license and lasts 10 years which is two (or more) renewals of our licenses. You do make a good point and perhaps we should just carry it with us when on trips not including airlines.

BTW - Minnesota was one of the hold-outs on REAL ID.

 

[PVD]

So I figured it out. People who live in the US, but aren't US citizens, still have to be licensed to drive, but they won't qualify for REAL ID. This means two groups of license holders. In Texas (if I recall correctly) there was no extra fee, but at license renewal time, we had to bring birth certificate and other documentation to comply.

not true, while you must be a citizen to obtain an enhanced dl in the states that issue them it is not a requirement for REAL ID. If you are legally in the US you can usually obtain one. If you are on something that has time limits as to your legal presence that will be reflected on the DL Some states have chosen to charge extra for REAL over regular, shockingly, NY (which has fees and taxes for everything) does not. An EDL is extra. Many states offer both real and non.