Gov. Kevin Stitt praised the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) announcement that the State of Oklahoma is in full compliance with the REALID Act and regulation.
This notification comes after three years of hard work by employees at the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to implement a new system and standards to allow Oklahoma to come into compliance with REAL ID regulations.
“The team at the Department of Public Safety has worked tirelessly to update systems and take the necessary steps to implement this critical program,” Gov. Stitt said. “Thanks to their dedication, Oklahomans will be able to use their REAL ID compliant licenses to travel seamlessly across the U.S. and enter federal facilities. By implementing REAL ID, we also are ensuring our state remains competitive, successfully attracts new businesses and retains our hardworking people as we continue to make Oklahoma a Top 10 state.”
DPS issued the first REAL ID compliant credential to the public June 29 and is currently in week eight of a 16-week statewide rollout. By mid-November, Oklahomans will be able to obtain a REAL ID compliant credential at all DPS facilities and tag agent locations.
“I am extremely proud of all of our employees and partners and their dedication to seeing this project through,” DPS Commissioner John Scully said. “Employees working on this project have worked weekends and nights to ensure that our state achieved this goal. Not only have we achieved becoming REAL ID compliant, but we have also modernized our entire credential issuance system. We thank Oklahomans for being patient with our agency as we implement the new system and work through growing pains.”
Due to circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, DHS extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline through October 1, 2021. This means regular Oklahoma driver licenses and ID cards will continue to be accepted for boarding a plane and entering federal facilities until that date.
Oklahomans can learn more about REAL ID and how to obtain one at www. realid.ok.gov.