Beginning on Dec. 1, 2014, federal law will require Alabama residents to have the new STAR I.D. Driver’s License or Identification Card, or a valid passport, in order to board domestic flights and to enter restricted federal facilities.

Alabama established the STAR (Secure, Trusted and Reliable) Identification program to comply with the U.S. REAL-ID Act of 2005. The REAL-ID Act of 2005 was passed in response to acts of terrorism and set the standards that citizens of states must meet in order to be issued a license or ID card.

The state began issuing STAR ID licenses in 2013, but forms of STAR identification are not required for residents of the state who wish to fly domestically or enter restricted federal facilities until Dec. 1, 2014 for residents born after Dec. 1, 1964.

Citizens born before Dec. 1, 1964 have until Dec. 1, 2017 to comply with the law.

However, while the law goes on the books in Alabama in December of 2014, the Department of Homeland Security has stated that it will not begin enforcing the restrictions on domestic air travel until 2016.

Unlike a traditional license, the STAR license cannot be renewed at the Pike County Probate Office. Instead, the license must be applied for at the Alabama Department of Public Safety Office at the Pike County Courthouse. A STAR license costs the same as a traditional license.

In order to receive the STAR designation on an Alabama license, citizens must provide proof of their identity, date of birth and address. Citizens are required to produce one of the following when applying for a license:

• A valid, unexpired United State Passport

• A certified birth certificate

• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad

• An unexpired employment authorization document issued by the DHS

• A Certificate of Naturalization

• A Certificate of Citizenship

In addition to one of the above, citizens must also verify their Social Security Number through one of the following documents:

• A Social Security Card

• A certified letter from the Social Security Administration stating your name and Social Security Number

• A United States Military Identification Card

• United States Military Form DD 214

• A Medicare/Medicaid Identification Card (only if your Social Security Number is followed by the letter A)

• A W-2 tax form

Citizens must also provide two documents showing proof of current address. Documents include:

• A Voter Registration Card

• A residential mortgage contract

• A current lease or rental agreement for housing

• Proof of payment of residential property tax

• Previous year tax returns bearing your address

• Vehicle registration bearing your name and address

• A utility bill less than 90 days old

• Any State or Federal Court documents indicating residence address

• School enrollment documentation

• Defense Department Form 214

• Sex offender registration documents

• Current homeowner’s insurance policy with name and address

• Social security benefits statements/summary mailed to your physical address

• U.S. or State Government check or other document mailed to your physical address

• Military orders documenting duty station and place of residence

To summarize, an applicant must provide one document verifying his identity, one document verifying his Social Security Number and two documents verifying his address.

Pike County residents can apply for either a STAR license or a STAR Identification Card at the Driver License Office located in the basement of the Pike County Courthouse.

The Driver License Office is open from 8-12 and 1-4:30 on Thursday and Friday. The office can be reached at 566-7031. The office serves customers on a first come, first serve basis.

Further information about the STAR program can be found on the Alabama Department of Public Safety’s website at dps.alabama.gov.