Over 12,000 North Carolinians Obtain REAL ID Cards

More than 12,000 North Carolina residents have obtained REAL ID cards in the three weeks since they've been introduced.

The state Division of Motor Vehicles started issuing REAL IDs on May 1st.

The REAL ID looks like a regular driver's license, but has a gold star in the upper right hand corner. The star shows that you have met personal identification standards spelled out in a federal law passed in response to the terrorist attacks of 2001.

Applicants must provide documents including a birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport or immigration documents, and a Social Security or W-2 form.

According to the News and Observer, the optional ID cards will make it easier to board airplanes or enter federal facilities when stricter requirements go into effect in 2020.

A NCDOT spokesman issued a statement saying the department is thrilled that North Carolinians have embraced the new option so quickly.