Kentucky has received a one-year extension to comply with a federal law stiffening rules for issuing identification in attempt to deter terrorism. President Bush signed the REAL ID law in 2005. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Spokesman Chuck Wolfe says the extension makes Kentucky driver’s licenses an accepted identification to gain access to the majority of federal installations. Wolfe says to comply with the law the state must streamline security in issuing the new ID’s.
"“We don’t have licenses issued at a centralized location like a department of motor vehicles office. Everywhere else you go to a DMV office to get your license--we don’t have that, you have to go the circuit court clerk office, there are actually 141 of those around the state.” Wolfe said.
According to Wolfe the state is surveying security practices at each circuit court clerk office. He says if security measures must change, it will be costly for the state. The extension runs through Oct. 10, 2016, and is renewable. Without the extension Kentuckians would need to produce another form of identification, like a birth certificate or U.S. passport to access certain federal buildings.
