PennDOT to phase in newly-designed driver licenses, identification cards

PennDOT to phase in newly-designed driver licenses, identification cards

6/20/2017-HARRISBURG

As part of ongoing security enhancements, the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation (PennDOT) has updated the design and enhanced the security
features of its driver license and identification card products.

PennDOT entered a new contract with MorphoTrust USA in August of 2015 for
the
design and issuance of Driver License (DL) and Identification (ID) cards.
Over
the last 22 months, PennDOT has worked with MorphoTrust USA on planning,
design
and deployment of this major new security enhancement initiative. This
update
is unrelated to the REAL ID Act.
"The update is an important component of PennDOT's ongoing work to enhance
and
protect the integrity of the driver license and identification card
issuance
process," said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards.
PennDOT began a pilot of the new products beginning on Monday, June 19 at
the
Riverfront Office Center location in Harrisburg. All Driver and Photo
centers
will transition to the new products by the end of October 2017. The new
products will be phased in over the next four-year renewal cycle and will
replace existing products. Both current and new card designs will be in
circulation during the transition period.
The new cards are not REAL ID-compliant. System, building infrastructure
and
process changes will be necessary for Pennsylvania to issue REAL
ID-compliant
products. PennDOT anticipates that REAL ID-compliant driver licenses and
identification cards will be available at customer's option in 2019.

The cards look very different, but they also have additional enhanced
security
features, which improve fraud prevention and protect from counterfeiting
and
alteration.

Some of the enhanced features include:
• Larger primary portrait and smaller ghost portrait
• 2D barcode, which contain data from the front of the card unique to the
cardholder
• Laser perforation - The keystone outline with "PA" is embedded into the
card
stock and can be observed by holding the card up to any light source
• Laminate - Each card is laminated with an optically-variable pattern with
the
state motto, "Virtue, Liberty, Independence," Keystone outline and "1787,"
the
year when the U.S. Constitution was ratified by Pennsylvania.

In addition to the above changes, the magnetic strip has been eliminated on
the
back of the newly designed driver's license and identification cards.

For more information and to see an image of the new card design, please
visit
www.dmv.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Campbell, 717-787-0485


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