Politics
Real ID ‘Supercenter’ Opens in Downtown Chicago Ahead of May 7 Federal Enforcement Date
The Real ID supercenter, 191 N. Clark St., offers walk-in services from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. (WTTW News)
A new downtown Chicago facility exclusively for Real IDs opened Wednesday, with less than two months until the federal enforcement period begins.
The so-called supercenter, equipped with 30 service counters, aims to meet the “unprecedented demand” for Real IDs while easing strain on DMV operations, the Secretary of State’s Office said in a news release.
The facility is located at 191 N. Clark St. and offers walk-in services from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.
Starting May 7, people 18 and over who plan to use their state-issued ID or driver’s license to fly within the U.S. or enter certain federal facilities must have one that is Real ID compliant.
TSA has not provided details on how it plans to enforce the Real ID Act once the enforcement date arrives, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Instead, the office said the TSA is suggesting it will implement a “phased enforcement approach” over a two-year period.
“If you go on May 8th and you don’t have a REAL ID and you don’t have a passport with you, it’s highly unlikely, we’re being told by the federal government, that they will actually kick you off the plane or not allow you to board,” Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in an interview on “Chicago Tonight” on Monday. “Most likely, you’ll get a warning.”
Starting this month, the office also introduced Real ID Saturdays, extending hours at six DMV appointment facilities and opening a dozen others exclusively for Real ID walk-in services. The office also increased the number of daily appointments by nearly 2,500 at appointment-only DMVs in Chicago and the suburbs.
A record-setting 10,641 Real IDs were processed this past Saturday, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Due to the surge in demand, the Secretary of State’s Office is reminding residents they can still apply for a Real ID after May 7 and that alternate forms of identification can be used instead of a Real ID, such as a valid U.S. passport, global entry card or military ID.
Real IDs are not mandatory for driving a vehicle and are not required for general identification purposes or proof of citizenship, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Those applying for a Real ID must do so in-person. People can visit the secretary of state’s website to make sure they have the documents they need before heading to the DMV or supercenter facility.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
