There have been many cancellations and postponements because of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

A major one that has gone largely unreported in Pennsylvania media is the postponement of the REAL ID deadline by a whole year.

For several months, many states, including Pennsylvania, temporarily closed or restricted access to motor vehicle departments, so this prevented millions from applying for and receiving their new state-issued REAL IDs.

States are not issuing REAL IDs automatically, so if you have not gotten yours yet, you have a bit more time, but the process has been slowed dramatically because of the coronavirus. That’s why I strongly recommend that you get a move on

When I have asked some family members and friends whether they had gotten their REAL IDs yet, I was floored to find out that some didn’t even know what I was talking about and were completely unaware of this requirement for fliers and others. Despite our living in an information-rich age, people are surprisingly unaware of some really crucial, impactful information.

On Oct. 1, 2021, every air traveler will need to show a REAL ID-approved driver’s license or other allowable form of ID (such as a passport) for domestic flights or to enter secure federal buildings. Such a license is one that meets the REAL ID Act’s security standards and is issued by a compliant state.

REAL ID has been in the works for nearly two decades, starting with the 9/11 attacks. As a way to bolster security, the federal government found the need for a universal identification that was much more secure than existing licenses. You see, the 9/11 hijackers got valid ID cards issued by several states, according to the FBI, and the committee that was formed to make recommendations in the aftermath of 9/11 encouraged the federal government to come up with national ID standards to help eliminate fraud and terrorism.

The regulation, adopted in 2005, required states to develop licenses with anti-counterfeiting measures, file photographs and other essential information into a federal database.

Pennsylvania was late coming to the program, so the REAL ID licenses were not available until 2019. This hassle could have been avoided if an ill-advised 2011 law had not been passed in Harrisburg essentially telling the federal government to shove it. The Republican-controlled General Assembly and then-Gov. Tom Corbett wanted to send a message to the feds, saying that Pennsylvania was not going to follow this unfunded mandate, because it was going to cost the state millions of dollars, and, besides, they said, this should be a states right issue.

Well this bravado got us in the feds’ crosshairs, and Pennsylvania legislators were told that if they did not play ball, the Keystone State would be cut off from several types of federal funding. That did the trick, and Pennsylvania got on board.

In 2017, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill partially nullifying the 2011 action. The General Assembly bill allows residents to decide whether they want one of the new types of license. If, for example, a person never flies nor ever anticipates entering a secure federal facility, he or she may decide not to get one of the new licenses. There is a one-time $30 fee, which will extend your license expiration date by four years. The compliant licenses have a gold star in the upper right-hand corner.

Getting a compliant license is not like waving a magic wand. To get one, applicants will need an original or certified copy of their birth certificate with a raised seal or valid U.S. passport. They will also need a copy of their Social Security card that is not laminated or sealed in plastic. They also will need proof of all legal name changes, such as marriage licenses or court orders. Last, but not least, they will need two forms of proof of their current Pennsylvania address.

PennDOT believes that eventually, 2.5 million of us will need REAL ID.

Applications are accepted at any PennDOT license center, although only some are able to print out and give you the REAL ID license on the spot. Otherwise, you will get one in the mail in a couple of weeks (hopefully).

License centers locally are on Route 443 in Mahoning Township, Coal Township, Schuylkill Haven, Whitehall and Hanover Township (Lehigh County) and Easton.

You can also apply online. Consult the PennDOT website for additional information or call the agency at 717-412-5300. Getting through by phone, however, is much more difficult these days because of staffing during the pandemic.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com