You can still get a "normal" driver's license without any rigmarole. And that's fine with me. I have no reason to convert to a "REAL ID"
(I already have to carry a passport for international travel, why do I need a "special" driver's license to satisfy the feds?)
While this is true,
> and not offered unless you go out of your way to get it.
this is not.
I live in NYS and just renewed my license. The REAL ID requirements were very prominent, and it wasn't immediately obvious if it was possible to renew my license without making it REAL ID.
They also offered a step above that, which I think was just called "Enhanced," which would allow me to leave my passport at home if I were going to Canada, but I travel to Canada less than I travel to Europe (and neither one frequently), so I didn't see the point in paying extra $$ for that.
Ultimately, because they say so. I'm genuinely curious: are you going to fly domestically with a passport after September? I'm not saying the government should have done REAL ID, but given that they seem intent on it I'm wondering what your plan is. For me, the reason to convert to a REAL ID is so that I can get on planes in the US. I had the option to go with a regular license, but that would have been inconvenient since I would have needed other ID to get on a plane, even for a domestic flight. Again, I'm not defending the government, just really curious what your plan is. Is it a protest?
Nowadays you can get a "passport card" which has the exact same form factor as a drivers license and can be used the same way as an "enhanced real id" for domestic flights or travel to/from Canada and Mexico.
It's a piece of plastic same size as a DL, a federal ID, and works for air travel. Usable for ID everywhere a state DL is as well as everywhere a federal ID is required.