Let me cut to the chase, the ruling is all about acceptable and secure travel identification and what does and doesn’t count as such.

What’s REAL ID? It’s a law and rule that establishes minimum standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and personal identification cards. REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards will allow you to board a federally-regulated airplane, access a federal facility or a nuclear power plant (no kidding allowed).

Why should a traveler care? The driver’s license is the most commonly used identity document in the United States so without an extension, many state driver’s licenses would not have been accepted as valid ID at airport security checkpoints. Just close your eyes and think about that bottleneck for a moment.

The law is a way to establish the same secure standard for all states to make it more difficult to fraudulently acquire a driver's license or ID card.

REAL ID compliant licenses and ID cards must meet minimum standards which include:

• Information and security features that must be incorporated into each card
• Proof of identity and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant
• Verification of the source documents provided by an applicant
• Security standards for the offices that issue licenses and identification cards

I would have added one more requirement: that the holder must have final approval on the photo used in the ID.

States now have over a year and half to comply and advise their residents of how and when or if they even need to obtain a new form of REAL ID.

Tom Conway, whose driver's license seems more at home in a washer's spin cycle than in his wallet, looks forward to your questions, comments and tips.