The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has granted Oklahoma’s REAL ID extension through October 10, 2019, according to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

This means the federal government will continue to recognize Oklahoma driver’s licenses and ID cards until that time. There will be no restrictions for Oklahomans using state licenses to fly commercial airlines or access federal building.

 “There have been many questions recently about Oklahoma’s status regarding REAL ID,” said Public Safety Commissioner Rusty Rhoades. “DPS is actively working towards making Oklahoma REAL ID compliant and will use this time to gain compliance.”

Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to make driver’s licenses harder to forge and to keep closer track of Americans. Oklahoma legislators in 2007 passed a bill forbidding the state from meeting provisions of the act.

Lawmakers in 2017 passed legislation that was signed by the governor, which allowed state officials to begin work on building a compliant system. That includes training tag agents and creating a centralized office to handle card manufacturing and storage.

There are 43 total requirements that must be met by states to be in full compliance. Oklahoma currently is in full compliance with 30 of those requirements, partial compliance with 12, and only one non-compliant.  The one noncompliant is the final certification letter that the state can’t complete until it has the system in place to issue the documents.