Which ID is best for you? Lewis County Clerk Jake Moser reminds of federal deadline to be compliant for flying domestically and entering federal facilities

LOWVILLE- Lewis County Clerk Jake Moser says there has been some recent confusion from local residents over what ID is the right one for them, as the May 7 deadline to become federally compliant is approaching quickly.

By doing so, you will be able to fly domestically and gain access to federal facilities, but which ID is the right one?

More on Enhanced and REAL ID via the New York DMV website.

In a nutshell, if your New York State license or ID does not have a star or a flag on it, then you do not have a REAL ID-compliant document.

The mix up, according to Clerk Moser, revolves around the fact that New York borders with another country and because of this, residents have the option of upgrading to a state issued Enhanced ID, and that provides an additional benefit of traveling to Canada or Mexico via land or by sea.

The problem, as Moser explains, revolves around national media coverage suggesting one must achieve a REAL ID in order to be compliant, which is not the case.

If you have an Enhanced ID, you are all set to go and there is no reason to get a REAL ID.

For context, a state issued REAL ID clears you for flying domestically and entering federal facilities, but does not allow you to travel to Canada and or Mexico by land or by sea.

Those who fail to achieve an Enhanced ID, REAL ID, or those who do not have a passport or some other federally compliant ID will not be allowed to fly domestically or enter certain federal facilities come May 7, 2025.

Jake Moser image.