New Oregon driver's licenses debuting this week have a blank space ready to accept the "Real ID" logo. It's part of a transition to help Oregon comply with the federal Real ID Act.
Colorful licenses with enhanced security measures are being tested near Salem now, and will be available to all Oregonians by March. After that, officials say, the state will set up systems for document scanning and storage so that Real ID is an option by July, 2020. The Real ID Act of 2005 requires states to meet uniform safety standards. The DMV will have to scan documents and keep them for up to 10 years. As of October, 2020, Real ID licenses will be required on commercial aircraft. However, says David House of the Oregon DMV:
"You don't need a Real ID license to get on a plane even after October of 2020 as long as you have some document that a security checkpoint will accept, such as a passport."
House says people can renew their licenses up to a year before they're due, but emphasizes they are always valid until their expiration date.
More information about Real ID here.
More information about new OR driver's licenses here.
