The Department of Motor Vehicles might seem like an odd location for a news conference. It’s usually a place to wait in line to prove you can legally keep driving a car.

But representatives from Kootenai County, the state of Idaho and the federal Transportation Security Administration insist that travelers who neglect to bring a new, soon-to-be-required identification to the airport might want to get used to driving a car.

Flying will no longer be an option.

“This is not something where you want to wait until the last minute,” Lt. Ryan Higgins of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday afternoon. “It’s important anyone looking to fly shows up and gets this taken care of.”

The “this” Higgins was referring to is the Star Card, the newest form of photo ID that doubles as both driver’s license and license to board a commercial aircraft. Regulations passed down from the Departemnt of Homeland Security require certain approved credentials, such as a passport or military ID. A regular driver’s license, come Oct. 1, 2020, will no longer do.

“We’re very pleased the number of Star Cards already obtained in Idaho,” Transportation Department spokesperson Jennifer Gonzalez said. “In August, we were up to 168,000 [applicants], but we saw an increase by almost 20,000 in September.”

The state’s number Star Card applicants to date is a good start, Gonzalez said, but Idaho still has its work cut out for it. With only a little less than a year to go before the new regulations take effect, only 14 percent of the state’s 1.2 million-plus drivers have acquired their Star Card.

“We’re coming up to the enforcement phase of this,” TSA Seattle spokesperson Lorie Dankers said. “Don’t put this off. As we get closer, it’s important people become aware of what’s required.”

The new ID card for those who wish to board an airplane — or enter a federal building or military base, for that matter — is emblazened with a special star on its upper-right corner, signifying its owner is able to fly domestically. A passport will still be required for international flights. The new card is Idaho’s response to Real ID, a federal requirement outlined by the 9/11 Commission. Passed in 2005, Oct. 1, 2020, represents the federal deadline for states to issue flight-approved identification.

The process for purchasing a Star Card is the same as the procedure for purchasing an otherwise-normal Idaho driver’s license: Bring your un-lamenated Social Security card, a certified copy of your birth certificate and two proofs of residency. Higgins said airline travelers should consider picking up their Star Cards sooner rather than later, as crowds at the DMV will only increase as the 2020 deadline approaches.

The news conference was called in the midst of a massive Idaho Transportation Department effort to educate Idahoans about the pending change. A multimedia and online campaign to educate residents about the Star Card and its requirements now includes a partnership with Idaho State University, the University of Idaho and Boise State University to promote the campaign at university sporting events.

Gonzalez added that drivers can expedite the process and avoid longer lines by taking advantage of an online Star Card tool on the state’s website.

“Give yourself plenty of time [at the DMV],” she said. “Plan ahead. Bring all the necessary documents. Take care of it now, and don’t get grounded.”