News 9 Reporter Goes Through The Process Of Getting A REAL ID

Wednesday, May 13th 2020, 4:47 pm

By: Jennifer Pierce

Oklahoma is getting closer to rolling out locations where residents can get their REAL ID. July is the target date for when the state will begin issuing the new IDs.

News 9’s Jennifer Pierce is one of the first in the state to get a REAL ID. She went through the process to show residents how it works.

“The process to get my REAL ID was pretty painless, only took about 15 minutes,” said Pierce. “The takeaway is to come prepared with the proper documentation.”

It was a little different than getting a driver's license. Pierce showed up to the Department of Public Safety in northeast Oklahoma City with a birth certificate, passport, social security card and proof of residency. Those documents need to include a mortgage statement or a rental agreement along with a utility bill or a voter identification card.

Once all of that information was compiled, it was picture time.

“You’re gonna see a bright flash in about 3, 2, 1,” said a DPS employee.

Next, the examiner scans index fingerprints and scans the required documents.

The state originally planned to begin issuing cards to resident in April, but COVID-19 hit the state forcing DPS officials to push the roll out date to July.

Officials said they still have a lot of work to do.

“We still have a lot of people to train,” said Capt. Randy Rogers, DPS REAL ID project manager. “Not only do we have to train examiners but we’ve got to train tag agents.”

Rogers said their goal is to have DPS offices and tag agents in the most populated areas of the state up and running first.

A REAL ID, if a resident chooses to get one, will take the place of a driver's license. Pierce was issued a paper ID to keep until her new card is mailed.

“About seven to 10 days, you’ll get your hard card in the mail,” said a DPS employee.

A REAL ID is optional for Oklahomans. Residents will only need one if they travel by air domestically or enter into a federal building and do not have a passport of a military ID. That begins October 2021.