PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem has announced that South Dakota is now more than 99 percent compliant in its efforts to meet the federal government’s enforcement deadline of the Real ID license regulations next year.

The federal Real ID Act established minimum security standards for license issuance and production. The act prohibits federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet the minimum standards. The purposes covered by the act include accessing federal facilities and boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.

While many states are working to reach the federal compliance deadline of Oct. 1, 2020, South Dakota began issuing Real ID compliant licenses and identification cards on Dec. 31, 2009. As of mid-October 2019, the state had issued more than 676,000 Real ID compliant driver licenses and more than 62,000 Real ID compliant identification cards.

“The early work by the state Driver Licensing program to meet the deadline means that all eligible South Dakotans, with only a few exceptions, already have been issued a Real ID compliant license or card,” says Gov. Kristi Noem. “The deadline will have no impact on those with a Real ID license or card issued in South Dakota. Our Driver Licensing program staff has done good work to ensure the state is compliant.”

A Real ID compliant card has a gold star or star within a circle in the upper right hand corner. Both cards will be accepted for proof of identity to board a flight within the United States.

Jane Schrank, director of the state Driver Licensing Program, said making the state compliant with Real ID regulations has been a priority for the program.

“This compliance is a tribute to work done by our driver license examiners every day at exam stations statewide,” Schrank said. “This high level of compliance speaks to the employees’ high quality standards, strong customer service and efforts to keep South Dakotans safe.”

For more information on how to apply for or renew a South Dakota driver license or identification card, click onto: https://dps.sd.gov/driver-licensing.

The state driver licensing program is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.