The REAL ID Act required minimum issuance standards that includes:
Having a proof of identity, date of birth, social security number, lawful status, and primary residence address
Verifying the documents presented for issuance if it is authentic.
Incorporating additional security features into the license card, and
Increasing security and privacy of personal information collected during the processing.
The Texas driver license and identification card issuance process is compliant to these standards. The requirements above are not based upon age, but exist for the purpose of providing security of the driver license and identification card issuance process.
Explanation:
The United States Congress had passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 as a response to the terrorism attacks on September 2011. The REAL ID Act requires Texas to adopt and implement a uniform standards in issuing and producing state-issued driver licenses and identification cards if they wanted to be accepted as identity documents by the federal government. This Act had strengthened state-issued card's integrity and security in an effort to lessen if not stop identity fraud and terrorism.
Starting October 1, 2020, only state-issued driver licenses and identification cards which are fully compliant with the REAL ID Act will be accepted for official federal government purposes, like in entering secure federal buildings or boarding domestic flights. Texas had begin issuing REAL ID compliant cards on October 10, 2016, and these cards are marked with a gold circle with an inset star located in the upper right-hand corner.
The Department of Public Safety in Texas fully support this law by being committed in protecting its citizens by only licensing individuals who are properly identified and properly demonstrate their ability to safely operate a motorized vehicle on public highways.
