© Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
But residents of some US states may soon require additional ID, such as passports, if they wish to embark on air travel - even if just domestically.
That's the new procedure on the horizon for people from states that have not yet introduced the standards required by the 2005 Real ID Act, which demands stricter regulations for state-issued IDs.
The states that haven't yet fallen into line each now have a grace period of three months to meet the revised criteria.
This deadline expires on 22 January 2018.
Travellers with drivers licenses from states that miss the deadline won't be able to use them as ID - for international or domestic flights - and will risk being detained at airport security if they don't have a passport or other TSA-approved form of identification, such as a green card, border crossing card or military ID.
At the time of writing, according to the Department of Homeland Security's website, only 27 US states are compliant with the Real ID Act.
Many are listed as being under review.
The legislation, which was established after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, makes it harder to obtain a driver's license with counterfeit records.
US congress passed the act 10 years ago, but it wasn't enforced until 2013.
By October 2020 the entire country will need to meet the revised standards, or face strict travel limitations.
The US Department of State recommends allowing up to six weeks for passports to be completed and returned, although people can pay for a faster turn-around of 21 days.
Reader Comments
Like its not bad enough already, lets add another hurtle. And they expire every few years, as if you shape-shifted into someone else. getting groped, removing your clothes/shoes, going through detectors, letting some thug rummage through your stuff and being treated like a complete criminal if you have facial hair. The being stuffed in a sardine tin with zero room, no food or drinks. Captain locked in the cockpit like in a vault. Marshals everywhere. Breathing Exxon 2380 turbine oil from the cabin press, All the while hoping maintenance did their shit correct.
I would walk before taking a commercial flight.
Im hoping the rail system will hold out a bit longer before succumbing.