Travelers without REAL IDs could face more problems at airports as TSA proposes new compliance

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Without a REAL ID, aerial travelers could soon person a existent problem.

Since May, airports successful California person been asking passengers for the federally approved recognition astatine information checkpoints.

"Travelers 18 years and older present request to person a Real ID oregon different acceptable signifier of recognition to spell done information screening," said Vickie Calderon, a media and nationalist relations serviceman astatine the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport.

On Wednesday, the TSA projected different option: if you don't person an ID that they accept, you tin wage $18 arsenic a workaround.

The TSA has projected a biometric kiosk strategy arsenic an enactment to verify individuality if a traveler does not person a Real ID but pays the fee.

The outgo would beryllium valid for 10 days for home travel.

The TSA says it's the adjacent measurement successful REAL ID compliance, archetypal signed into instrumentality 20 years agone to heighten information successful airports.

"I bash deliberation it makes sense. Only due to the fact that it's truthful casual to get a driver's license. And they past for a truly agelong time," said Roger Schreiner, who was travelling done Fresno's airdrome connected Wednesday.

Other travelers Action News spoke to connected Wednesday were acrophobic that the caller strategy whitethorn origin problems.

"It decidedly would origin holdups," said Kelli Davenport, who is visiting household successful Fresno. "I already person my REAL ID, truthful I don't deliberation it would interaction me. But for others... I deliberation that could hinder them. Especially with the fee.

Additionally, the bureau said biometric screening is not a warrant that each identities volition beryllium verified. Travelers could look further information measures and brushwood delays.

After announcing the connection connected Wednesday, the TSA reminded Americans that this newest compliance with REAL ID has been successful the works for decades.

"This announcement serves arsenic a adjacent measurement successful the process successful REAL ID compliance, which was signed into instrumentality much than 20 years agone and yet implemented by Secretary Noem arsenic of May 2025. TSA is moving with stakeholders and partners to guarantee some information and ratio astatine our checkpoints. Additional guidance volition beryllium announced successful the coming days," said the agency.