Dec. 1 (UPI) — The Transportation Security Administration announced Monday that fliers who don’t have an acceptable REAL ID or passport can pay a $45 fee and use Confirm.ID, a modernized identity verification system to confirm their identities at security checkpoints starting Feb. 1.
Those without the proper identification will be sent to TSA’s optional Confirm.ID process before entering the security line, the TSA said in a press release. The process at each airport will be different, and the agency is working with private companies to offer online payment options.
Now, more than 94% of passengers already have a REAL ID, TSA said. It expects increased wait times for those without.
“Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems such as rail,” said TSA Chief of Staff Adam Stahl in a statement. “The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are. … The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights.”
TSA also encourages travelers to make an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible.