Missouri is granted grace period for tougher ID requirements

After the last extension expired Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security gave Missouri a grace period through Jan. 22, 2018.

The federal law under the Real ID Act, which mandates tougher proof-of-identity requirements at airports, some federal facilities and military bases, has caused privacy concerns among some Missouri lawmakers. They have pushed back against this law for years.

A Missouri law that took effect in August gives residents the choice to get the compliant driver’s licenses or other ID cards.

Department of Revenue spokeswoman Anne Marie Moy says the agency requested another extension through March 2019. This would hopefully give the state enough time to make the compliant licenses available.

In the meantime, the state has been granted the grace period while the Department of Homeland Security decides whether to give Missouri another extension.