Special to Atmore News
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) reiterates that Alabama citizens will still be able to obtain their STAR ID from an ALEA Exam Office after the May 7, federal enforcement date. May 7 is not the last day citizens can obtain a STAR ID from an ALEA Exam Office. However, this is the date on which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will begin enforcing REAL ID requirements. Beginning May 7, individuals who wish to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities will need to present a REAL ID-compliant credential, such as:
- A STAR ID (Alabama’s version of the REAL ID)
- A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. Department of Defense ID card
- Or another form of federally accepted identification
Citizens who do not plan to fly or access federal facilities immediately in May of 2025, still have plenty of time to obtain a STAR ID after the May 7, enforcement date. Alabama residents may visit any of the 75 ALEA Driver License Examining Offices statewide to complete the application process. If appointments are booked in one location, residents are encouraged to check availability at nearby offices.
It is important to note that: - A STAR ID is NOT required to operate a motor vehicle or
- A STAR ID is NOT required to vote in Alabama
- A STAR ID is not a new initiative. It has been available statewide in Alabama since 2012, and STAR ID services will continue to be offered after May 7.
- What is new is the federal enforcement date, which has been extended several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, aims to enhance the security of federal identification credentials.
- Once issued, the STAR ID is not a separate document – it is incorporated into your existing Alabama Driver License. A gold star in the top left-hand corner of the card will indicate that it meets federal standards. If your current license was issued after April 26, 2022, and lacks this gold star, it will be marked “Not for federal identification.”
- Residents with a valid, unexpired passport or other accepted federal ID may choose not to obtain a STAR ID, as Alabama is an optional state.
- For more information or to find the nearest ALEA Examining Office, visit: Star ID | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.