Latest news with #JoshuaThompson
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
REAL ID requirement, Day 1, at Mobile Regional Airport — what travelers should know
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — For travelers coming in and out of Mobile Regional Airport, they now must show a new form of identification before boarding their flight. Dauphin Way Baptist Church confirms it's selling long-time property After years of hearing it was coming, the 'enforcement deadline' for having a REAL ID, also known as STAR ID, is finally here. If you're planning on travelling anytime soon, you might want to double-check your driver's license. It should have a REAL ID star on the front. 'If they have a star in the corner, they have a REAL ID or as Alabama has termed it STAR ID,' Joshua Thompson with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. The star in the top corner means you're set to go. For anyone 18 and older, the star is required to fly domestically, enter certain federal buildings, or even to use TSA pre-check, unless you have a passport and or other federally accepted forms of ID that you can use in its place. Now that deadline is here, the big question, is everyone prepared? WKRG News 5 spoke with passengers to find out who's ready. 'My license actually expires in June and I did not have time to do my REAL ID, but I knew I could take my passport. So I brought my passport with me,' Christine Newbegin, a traveler from Madison, Wisconsin said. 'I got it last August,' Levy Knox, a Mobile resident travelling to Atlanta, said. 'I believe that opportunity comes through those who are prepared. So we need to be prepared.' But if you don't have your STAR ID yet, that doesn't mean you have to panic. 'You can still obtain your STAR ID after today. Today is just the day that it goes into effect,' Thompson said. 'You can still travel domestically, you can still access federal buildings. You just might need a different proof of identification.' Alabama bill combating gun violence signed into law So if you've got a trip coming up and no gold star, you might want to pack your passport. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Clock is ticking to get a REAL ID nationwide — what to know in Alabama
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The deadline is coming up as REAL IDs nationwide become enforced to fly domestically on May 7, and some people say they have waited hours to get one. Alabama's version is the STAR ID, which every citizen will need to show for domestic flights and to access federal buildings. Saraland High School graduate arrested in Louisiana hazing death case News 5 learned one simple step that will cut your wait time drastically: schedule an appointment with your local Alabama Law Enforcement Agency office. 'If you show up, you know, having an appointment made, it typically takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes,' ALEA Public Affairs Director Joshua Thompson said. Exact requirements may vary by state to get these IDs. In Alabama, residents need to bring four documents: A previous license or passport, a social security number and two proofs of residency. For the full list of documentation to bring, you can go to the ALEA website. After the standardized eye test, photo for the license and a round of questions, News 5 learned the process took 15 minutes with the appointment. 'You're going to receive a temporary driver's license or ID card that is on a piece of paper,' Thompson said regarding what happens after that process. 'Two to four weeks, your new ID will be mailed to your address.' Former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine announces run for mayor If you do not plan to fly or access the federally restricted buildings anytime soon, you can skip these lines altogether. 'We want to remind the public that this is a total and complete option,' Thompson said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
