The New Hampshire drivers license Real ID design rolled out in January 2025 cannot be read by some TSA systems at airports which have not gotten a software update alerting them to the new appearance. (NH DMV—Courtesy)
Some people flying back to New Hampshire have faced problems with TSA’s identification system not recognizing the state’s redesigned driver’s licenses — a flaw that TSA representatives say is the result of an incomplete software update, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles.
“I think in New York, Florida and North Carolina we’ve heard from people the [credential authentication technology] system didn’t recognize,” said TSA New England Region spokesperson Daniel Velez.
Licenses could still be authenticated manually, and travelers returning home to New Hampshire from those states were able to board their airplanes.
It is unclear whether any issues have shown up with TSA systems at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
The problem has not affected the automatic verification of driver’s licenses carrying the old design. The new license design, rolled out in January, was specifically made to meet the federal requirements for Real ID, which will be necessary for travelers without passports as of May 7.
A statement from John Marasco, director of the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles, explained that the vendor which produced the new design “confirmed the issue was related to the TSA’s identification scanning system and not related to the identification itself.”
“Everyone who has received the new design should rest assured that their identification is valid, REAL ID-compliant, and was thoroughly reviewed and approved by a variety of stakeholders, including the Department of Homeland Security, before it was finalized and went into production,” the statement read.
David Brooks can be reached at dbrooks@cmonitor.com