WSMR no longer accepts N.M. driver’s licenses

Bulletin report

Do you need to visit White Sands Missile Range for an event or project or even just to check out the Darth Vader helmet at the museum?

If so, you better have more than just a New Mexico driver’s license.

The Army base east of Las Cruces announced that, since the New Mexico driver’s license or issued identification card is not in compliance with the Federal REAL ID Act, they are no longer a valid single form of identification that can be used to gain access to the missile range.

The state’s licenses can still be used at airports, though. The Department of Homeland Security extended the deadline for state driver licenses to meet REAL ID standards until Jan. 22, 2018.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 establishes minimum standards for the production and issuance of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. With regard to authorized credentials for access to DOD Installations, the following forms of identification meet minimum REAL ID Act standards for DOD installation access, but must be current:

• DOD-issued Common Access Card (CAC) — Military Identification Card-Active duty, Retired, Reserve, National Guard or dependent

• Federal Identification Cards (PIC)

• Transportation Worker Identification Card — United States Passport or United States Passport Card — Permanent Resident Card/Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551) — Foreign passport with a temporary (I-551) stamp or temporary (I-551) printed notation on a machine readable immigrant visa — An employment authorization document that contains a photograph (Form I-766) — Current/valid driver’s license (must contain photo, name, DOB, gender, height, eye color and address) — must be from a Real ID Act compliant state — ID card issued by Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies (must contain photo, name, DOB, gender, height, eye color & address) — U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Legacy Cards — U.S. Coast Guard New Merchant Mariner Credential • Native American Tribal Document Additionally, adults, 18 years and older who only have a non-compliant state License/ID, will be required to provide an additional form of identification from the list below:

• U.S. Military or draft record

• U.S. Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration

• Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (Forms FS-545 or DS-1350)

• U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)

• ID Card for use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form I-179) Along with existing procedures to gain access to WSMR, a background check is also required for all visitors. For the most current information concerning state-by-state compliance with the REAL ID Act, please visit https:// www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs.