REAL ID now enforced nationwide; no problems at Lincoln Airport on first day

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The new world of traveling is here.

As of Wednesday, REAL IDs are required to travel domestically.

It was all started 20 years ago by the 9/11 Commission, but it took a while to get here, seeing four delays.

“It’s not punitive; it’s not to prevent travelers getting access to the checkpoint,” said Patricia Mancha, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration. “It’s about identity verification.”

SEE ALSO: Are you ready for REAL ID? Nebraskans will soon need one to fly

To see if your driver’s license meets REAL ID standards, checking the top right corner.

In most states, including Nebraska, there will be a star. But some other states have different symbols.

Everything ran smoothly at the Lincoln Airport on Tuesday.

The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles began issuing driver’s licenses with REAL IDs in 2013.

People flying through LNK shared about their first experience traveling under the new rule.

“It’s a night and day difference compared to what it used to be,” Amanda Myers said, saying the security line runs more efficiently now.

Although she said not everyone is prepared.

“There was one person in front of me, they didn’t have theirs,” she said. “But they had their passport. They had to call security over, and I was like, ‘That’s what you get; that’s what happens.'”

Others are glad to know another layer of security is being added at airports.

“It’s a real good idea,” Jean Tunnison said. “The more we can make sure the people are who they say they are, the better.”

According to the TSA, there are 13 different forms of identification for traveling, but the new REAL ID will become the easiest and most common.

For now, if you don’t have a REAL ID, your passport is the next best thing.

You can prove your identity in other ways, too, nut you’ll have to go through advanced screening.

The TSA advises even those who don’t fly frequently to still make sure they’re carrying their REAL IDs just in case.

“If you have a family who lives in a place where you would need to fly, consider it,” Mancha said. “Even if you’re someone who doesn’t fly often and something happens where you need to get somewhere quickly, not having your proper credentials could slow you down.”