Complaints emerge about TSA issues with Kentucky Real ID’s

HEBRON, Ky. (WXIX) - A Kentucky woman says she had issues using her Real ID when she flew from CVG to Orlando recently.

Kellie Godwin got her Real ID at Burlington’s driver’s license regional office. She said she had problems verifying her Real ID at two different airports when TSA authentication technology failed to match the photo on her ID with her face.

“(The TSA officer) was really struggling to process my photo,” Godwin said. “She was like, ‘How old is this driver’s license?’ and I was like, ‘I just got it in October.’ She said it was all washed out, I can’t see anything. They struggled at that point.”

Godwin said she tried removing her hat and her glasses An officer asked her to change her smile but he still couldn’t authenticate her photo and had to get a supervisor.

She said her husband had the same problems when they tried leaving Orlando. She said a TSA officer said the photos were too washed out and they had issues verifying they were the same people pictured on their IDs.”

“It was unnerving for me, especially as a not-very seasoned traveler to go through extra steps to have my identity verified,” Godwin said. “I thought this was supposed to make it easier.”

The Kentucky Office of Public Affairs sent a statement to FOX19 NOW about people having problems with their Real ID.

“While we do not receive many reports systemwide on this issue, the TSA is set up to conduct secondary screenings if any questions regarding the validity of Real IDs issued by Kentucky or any other state. We are always happy in any instance such as this to offer a photo re-take and new card issuance at no charge.”

Godwin said she would try to get a new photo taken, but since she and her husband had their Real ID photos taken months apart, she’s not convinced it will fix the issue.

Godwin posted about her Real ID issues on Facebook. Several people commented saying they experienced similar problems.

The Kentucky Office of Public Affairs said anyone with problems should visit their drivers licensing regional office and request a photo re-take.

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