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You can still fly with NH ID

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New Hampshire residents flying back from holiday travels will still be able to board flights using New Hampshire driver’s licenses, the federal government says.

However, if New Hampshire does not pass a bill to change driver’s licenses by June 1, New Hampshire residents will need to provide passports or other federally approved ID at airports. 

At issue is the federal REAL ID law.  The REAL ID program requires a driver to present documents such as a birth certificate and social security card in order to receive a license.  Some information from those documents is shared with other states, as part of an effort to combat ID fraud and terrorism.  Starting some time in 2016 the federal government will require REAL ID compliant licenses to board a plane. 

There is already a 2016 bill in the works to make New Hampshire driver’s licenses compliant with REAL ID.  That bill, HB 1616, would allow residents to choose if they want a REAL ID license or a regular license. 

Opponents of REAL ID maintain that the program violates citizens’ rights by forcing states to share private information.

However, if New Hampshire does not allow its citizens to choose REAL ID licenses, residents will have to buy passports to travel by plane.

When the LFDA last asked our community about REAL ID, most commenters did not want New Hampshire to participate in the program.  Click here to read a summary of that discussion.

Do you think New Hampshire should pass HB 1616?  Comment below.

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