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Hancock to lose license ability

In approximately 18 months, but maybe sooner, the local Hancock County Circuit Court office loses the ability to issue or renew licenses for residents. After this time Hancock County residents need to travel to Owensboro to obtain a license.
“It is all related to the REAL ID act,” Hancock County Circuit Court Clerk Mike Boling said. “WE will continue to issue standard licenses, but it will be for a short time.”

The REAL ID act does not require states to remove the issuance of driver’s licenses from circuit court clerk’s offices; the act requires states to create licenses that meet certain requirements. Kentucky decided to go to regional license centers due to the creation of a REAL ID computer program that did not work with the state’s existing driver’s license program in circuit court clerk’s offices.
“It was supposed to be done locally,” Boling said. “They tested the program in a couple of counties, and it had a lot of glitches.”

Boling said the state Department of Transportation decided to take the program back, rework the program and keep control of it. When the department of transportation decided to take over the issuance of REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses, it decided to just take over the issuance of all driver’s licenses in the state.

Currently, regional REAL ID offices exist in Bowling Green, Madisonville and in Owensboro. A temporary office sits on Second Street in the parking garage by the RiverPark Center in Owensboro. The state started construction of a permanent facility by the current Daviess County Operations Center on the west side of Owensboro near the roundabout at state Routes 81 and 56.

Congress passed the REAL ID act in 2005, and it sets specific standards state driver’s licenses must meet to be used as official identification. The Department of Homeland Security then defined what “official purposes” required the use of the ID.

Official purposes as defined by Homeland Security include “boarding commercially operated airline flights, entering federal buildings and nuclear power plants,” according to information from Wikipedia.

The REAL ID act requires all driver’s licenses issued in the United States to meet certain, specific standards. According to Wikipedia, these requirements include, “full legal name, signature, date of birth, gender, a unique identifying number, principal residence address and front-facing photograph of the applicant.” In addition the IDs need to include features to prevent tampering, counterfeiting or illegal duplication, according to Wikipedia.

After October 1 of this year people wanting to board a commercial flight or enter federal buildings must present REAL ID compliant IDs.
“After October 1 of this year, if you go to get on an airplane and just have a regular driver’s license, TSA agents won’t let you on the flight,” Boling said. “No exceptions.”

He then gave an example. If a relative goes on vacation to California, Hawaii or some other place and is seriously injured in an accident and you need to get there immediately, without a REAL ID compliant ID, you cannot board a domestic flight.

To obtain a REAL ID from the Owensboro office, people need to make an appointment first, no walk-in allowed.

They also need to bring specific documentation to receive a REAL ID compliant driver’s license. A person must bring this documentation with them to their appointment: a photo ID or a non-photo ID that includes the person’s full legal name and birthdate, documentation of the person’s birthdate, documentation of his or her legal status and Social Security Number and documentation showing the person’s name and address of his or her principal address. A person must bring all of this documentation, not just one of the items.

“From what I heard, the process is pretty quick,” Boling said. “I have heard no complaints.”
Boling said if a county resident wants to obtain a REAL ID compliant driver’s license now, just call his office at 270.927.8144 for the REAL ID office number in Owensboro.

Boling said another form of identification does allow a person to board a domestic airline flight: a passport. “I call the passport the magic ID,” Boling said. “It is good for 10 years, and if you are going out of the country you need a passport anyway.”

Several area post offices offer passport services. He said the Rockport, Ind. and Tell City, Ind. post offices offer passports, as does the United States Post Office on the west side of Owensboro. In regards to the REAL ID compliant driver’s license, an advantage does exist to getting one, Boling said. “It is the same price as a regular license, but lasts twice as long,” he said.

By Ralph Dickerson

2 Comments

  1. David Smith on March 4, 2021 at 9:22 am

    Owensboro Regional REAL ID Office on KY 81 is OPEN

    2620 Ky Hwy 81, Owensboro, KY 42301
    Hours: M-F 8AM-4PM
    for more info

    drive dot ky dot gov backslash REALID

    According to 3/31/2020 Messenger-Inquirer story HB 453 made this change and the move will bring Kentucky more in line with other states. AOC Director Laurie Dudgeon said. “Kentucky is the only court system that issues identification documents, This brings us more in line with the way the rest of the country does it. The judicial branch supports it.”

    • Benjamin Bayani on March 5, 2021 at 6:40 pm

      U give address but no info on type of id’s needed? I think u should so people don’t bring wrong ones or don’t bring right ones. Not to waste anyone’s time. Just a thought!

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