The Fayette Citizen-News Page

Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Georgia driver's licenses get new facelift with more secure features

In a continuing effort to combat document fraud and ultimately protect the citizens of Georgia, the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety is preparing to issue new and improved driver licenses and identification cards.These documents will be produced with the latest in technology making them the most secure that Georgia has ever issued.

The new designs will begin to be issued in mid-August and will be available statewide by the end of September.It will take four years to complete the conversion of all drivers having the new card design because previously issued Georgia driver's licenses and identification cards will remain valid until their expiration date.

The new documents are designed to be more difficult to duplicate.The license still resembles a credit card, complete with a bar code on the back containing information that will now allow a store clerk to scan and determine the person's age. The new cards have several security features that include a ghost photo image imprinted over vital information to minimize alterations and a tamper resistant coating placed over the card.

One new and important security practice will be the issuance of an initial driver's license to anyone who obtains a license or renewal atany DMVS customer service center. This will allow DMVS to do information security checks against various databases to detect identity fraud or possible homeland security issues.The document will be printed on special security paper which is highly sensitive and will discolor after any attempt to alter it.

The license will have a picture to allow its use for all identification purposes. It should not be laminated.

The interim license will be valid up to 45 days at which time a permanent license will be mailed to the applicants mailing address on record.When the new license is received, the interim license should be destroyed in accordance with Georgia law and to safeguard personal information.

Drivers renewing their license through the mail or on the Internet will be mailed the permanent license instead of the initial paper license.

Another feature of the new license is designed to combat underage drinking.A license issued to someone under 21 is printed in a vertical format, the opposite of a license for someone 21 or older.There is also text labeling "Under 18 until Month/Date/Year" and "Under 21 until Month/Date/Year" in a colored bar underneath the photograph.The photo will also be outlined in red.This will aid retailers and law enforcement in identifying minors.

"Because this new license is harder to fake, it will keep more drivers who don't qualify for a license off the road and make the purchase of alcohol by those under 21 more difficult," said DMVS Commissioner Tim Burgess. "It's all about safer roads for Georgia drivers. But just as importantly, the new system will help address the growing problem of identity theft and fraud."

Last November, the DMVS awarded a six-year contract worth approximately $20 million to Viisage Technology, Inc., a leader in facial recognition biometrics and secure identification systems, to design, develop and implement the new digital driver's license program.Viisage has also implemented a local, central card production facility that will cost effectively allow tight management of the production and issuance of the highly secure credentials.Central production also affords the DMVS tighter control of the storing, analysis and retrieval of information including scanned application forms, portrait images, signature images, fingerprints and data associated with each driver's record."We have taken great care in guarding our citizens' private information," added Burgess.

The license fees for Georgia citizens have not increased and will remain $15 for a regular license or renewal, $10 for an instructional permit or identification card, $8 for an organ donor and $25 for a limited permit.

Features of new driver's license and ID card

A Motor Voter receipt is provided with the initial license.

Each interim document utilizes heat sensitive thermochromic ink.

Each cardholder's personal information, facial image and signature are printed onto a highly durable teslin card.

Each permanent card is laminated with a tamper resistant coating that increases the card's durability and security.

A two-dimensional bar code on the back of a document is an additional security feature.

Each document includes a standard sized facial image and a ghost image of the licensee.Facial images are positioned on the left side of the license and on the right side of the ID cards.

Organ Donor is indicated by a red heart on the right front of the license.

To identify documents at a glance, note the color of the header text and outline of the state: yellow for Instructional Permit, brown for Provisional Permit, blue for regular Driver's License, purple for Limited Permit, orange for Probationary Driver's License, green for GA Identification Card, red for Commercial Driver's License.

For more information, visit www.dmvs.ga.gov or call the customer service telephone number at 678-413-8400.

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