TSA to impose $45 fee for non-REAL ID travelers

A woman at the Boise airports hands her Star Card to a TSA agent.

BOISE – Starting Feb. 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration will impose a $45 fee on passengers traveling without a REAL ID-compliant identification card, such as Idaho’s Star Card, or another acceptable document. The fee applies to both international and domestic travel.

TSA officials emphasized that payment does not guarantee verification. Travelers whose identities cannot be confirmed may be denied entry at the security checkpoint. If approved, the verification is valid for a 10-day travel period. The fee can be paid online before arriving at the airport or at the airport before entering the security line, though officials warn the process may take up to 30 minutes.

Passengers presenting a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant, and who do not have another acceptable alternative such as a passport, should expect delays, additional screening, and the possibility of being turned away.

“Our goal is to help customers travel efficiently and securely,” said Lisa McClellan, DMV Administrator. “Planning ahead and bringing the right documents ensures a smoother trip and avoids unnecessary fees or delays.”

Idaho residents are strongly encouraged to obtain a Star Card well in advance of their travel plans. Customers must bring the required documents in order to receive a Star Card. If all necessary documents are not presented, the card cannot be issued. A complete checklist is available at itd.idaho.gov/starcard, and residents are urged to review it before visiting the DMV.

Many Idaho DMV offices operate by appointment only. Residents should check with their local county driver’s license office before visiting. It is important to note that many Motor Vehicle offices offer REAL ID services in addition to the Driver’s License offices to help Idahoans obtain their REAL ID. The Ada County Motor Vehicle office on Chinden Blvd, Canyon County Motor Vehicle Office, and Clearwater Motor Vehicle have the ability to issue renewals and REAL ID upgrades. There is no additional fee for adding the STAR to your renewal or replacement to make it REAL ID compliant. Renewal/duplicate fees apply. Once issued, physical cards may take up to two weeks to arrive by mail, so travelers should plan accordingly.

Other acceptable forms of identification can be found on TSA’s website at tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.

ITD announces winners for Name a Snowplow contest

Color-coded map of Idaho titled “2025 Name a Snowplow Winners,” showing two winning snowplow names per region. Names include CtrlSaltDelete, SnowbiWanKenobi, Austin Plowers, Betty WhiteOut, Fast&Flurryous, Catch My Drift, Blizzard Wizard, Scoopy Doo, SleetwoodMac, Snowzilla, Blizzard Basher, and Frosty. Lines connect each name to its corresponding region.

The Idaho Transportation Department has selected 12 winners from its second annual Name a Snowplow contest! The names will be featured on 12 plows across the state. The winners are:

North Idaho:

CtrlSaltDelete, Mullan School District, teacher Kristy Dykes
SnowbiWanKenobi, Post Falls High School, teacher Denae Glenn

North-Central Idaho:

Blizzard Basher, Genesee School District, teacher JR Morrow
Frosty, Salmon River Jr.-Sr. High School, teacher Ms. Mayes

Southwest Idaho:

Austin Plowers, Idaho Virtual Academy, teacher Michelle Mattson
Betty WhiteOut, Idaho Virtual Academy, teacher John Benson

South-Central Idaho:

Blizzard Wizard, Shoshone Schools, teacher Mark Sant
Scoopy Doo, East Minico Middle School, teacher Mitchell Young

Southeast Idaho:

Sleetwoodmac, Franklin Middle School, teacher Josh Nielsen
Snowzilla, Idaho Virtual Academy, teacher Becky Ipsen

East Idaho:

Fast&Flurryous, Idaho Virtual Academy, teacher Mr. Henderson
Catch my drift, Farnsworth Middle School, teacher Laura Walker

Names were submitted by sixth through twelfth-grade classrooms statewide, and ITD employees anonymously selected 12 winners.

Once the plow names are installed, ITD will coordinate educational visits with the winners to teach the students about snowplows and safe winter driving.

“We’re proud of the creativity and community spirit shown by Idaho’s students and teachers in naming our snowplows,” said ITD Director Scott Stokes. “These names help connect people to the important work our crews do every winter. When you see a plow out on the road, please remember to give them space so they can keep our highways safe for everyone.”

ITD and ISP to host winter driving class in Lewiston on December 13

Picture of a ISP trooper and a ITD operator presenting to a classroom and sharing winter driving tips.

The Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police are teaming up to provide a free, informative and engaging winter driving safety class on Saturday, December 13 in Lewiston as the region prepares for icy roads and adverse weather.

The classes are designed to help drivers prepare for Idaho’s winter conditions by covering topics like vehicle readiness, proper equipment, defensive driving techniques, and how to safely share the road with snowplows. Instructors include state troopers and ITD operators who bring firsthand experience from years of working on Idaho’s roads and responding to emergencies during severe weather.

While these classes are open to everyone of all ages and skill levels, they are especially valuable for:

Young drivers with limited winter driving experience
New drivers, including those preparing to start driver’s education in the next year
New residents facing their first Idaho winter

Lewiston Winter Driving Class event details:

Saturday, December 13
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
ITD District 2 Office, 2600 Frontage Road, Lewiston, ID 83501 (The main entrance is on the south side of the building near the flag poles.)
Register online here. Seating is limited. Additional courses may be scheduled later.

More information can be found on ITD’s website Travel page, itd.idaho.gov/travel.

ITD and ISP partner to launch Winter Driving Safety Campaign

In preparation of more snow in the region, we will temporarily close U.S. Highway 20 from Anderson Dam Road to Hill City tomorrow.

BOISE — As winter weather returns to Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police are partnering to launch a statewide Winter Driving Safety Campaign. The initiative aims to reduce crashes and fatalities by promoting safe driving habits, snowplow awareness, and enforcement of seat belt and impaired driving laws.

“Each winter we see too many crashes that could have been avoided,” ISP Major Shawn Staley said. “Driving too fast for conditions and following too closely are among the top causes when roads are icy. And wearing your seat belt is the best defense in a crash–every time.”

Despite progress, 14% of Idahoans still aren’t buckling up. In recent years, unrestrained occupants accounted for a majority of fatalities in crashes statewide.

Holidays can be very tough for families who have lost someone. Wearing a seatbelt is proven to be the most effective way to survive a crash,” said Josephine Middleton, Highway Safety Manager at OHS. “Talk to your family about buckling up every time they get into a vehicle to avoid an unnecessary tragedy.”

In addition to seat belt patrols, ISP will conduct emphasis patrols targeting impaired driving. In Idaho, 86 lives were lost to impaired driving in 2024.

Drivers are urged to follow these safety tips:

Always wear a seat belt.
Never drive impaired; plan a sober ride in advance.
Slow down and increase following distance in snow, ice, or rain.
Avoid distractions and stay alert for changing conditions.
Give plows lots of room to work. The majority of snowplow strikes involve another vehicle passing too close or following too close and running into the plow. The front plow is 12 feet wide, and a wing plow is 10 feet wide on the right. Plows also have large blind spots.

ITD encourages drivers to prepare vehicles with snow tires, emergency kits, and full fuel tanks. Before traveling, check road conditions at 511.idaho.gov and monitor forecasts at weather.gov.

Together, ITD and ISP are working to ensure every journey ends safely.

Input sought on long-range planning for transportation in Idaho

People review a map of a proposed project

The Idaho Transportation Department is seeking input on long-range planning for transportation across the state through a series of public meetings in the next month.

Comments will inform the update to ITD’s Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan, a federally required strategy document that is updated every five years and is used by the Idaho Transportation Board and planning staff as a guide to program future studies and projects.

Open houses will be held in each region of the state:

Nov. 18 in Pocatello at the Portneuf Medical Center (777 Hospital Way)

Nov. 19 in Idaho Falls at the Crosspoint Community Church (1900 Grandview Drive)

Dec. 2 in Coeur d’Alene at the Hampton Inn and Suites (1500 West Riverstone Drive)

Dec. 3 in Lewiston at the Lewiston Community Center (1424 Main Street)

Dec. 4 in Boise at Mountain View High School Library (2000 South Millennium Way)

Dec. 8 in Twin Falls at the College of Southern Idaho (315 Falls Avenue)

All events will take place 3 – 7 p.m. The same material will be shared online, with comments sought from Nov. 18 to Jan. 10.

ITD’s Long-Range Transportation Plan will look at the needs of the transportation network out to 2050 and consider a variety of factors including growth, travel demands, land use, safety, economic development, system reliability and anticipated revenue.

“This policy document looks at current conditions, existing plans and future trends in Idaho and lays the foundation for ITD to continue to deliver on our mission of safety, mobility and economic opportunity,” said Amy Schroeder, the division administrator for planning. “It’s not necessarily about identifying specific projects. It’s about determining, through data analysis and public input, the best strategy for investing in the transportation system given the variability of future revenue.”

The plan comes at a time of extraordinary growth and funding uncertainty. Besides seeking public feedback, ITD is engaging with other planning organizations as the plan will look at the transportation network as a whole, which extends beyond state-managed highways to locally owned routes and alternative modes of transportation.

“This is about working with local jurisdictions and planning agencies to address congestion in major cities,” Schroeder said. “It’s also about adopting a statewide perspective and recognizing that it’s just as important to look at improving safety and reducing fatalities in our rural areas.”

An additional public comment period to review the draft plan is planned for summer 2026, and the plan is expected to be released in 2027.