HARRISBURG. Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Tuesday updated design and security features for driver’s licenses and identification cards.
The newly-designed cards will be phased in as part of ongoing security enhancements, PennDOT said.
Over the last 22 months, PennDOT said, it has worked with MorphoTrust USA on the planning, design and deployment of the security enhancement initiative. PennDOT entered into a contract with MorphoTrust USA in August 2015.
A pilot of the new cards began Monday at the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg. All driver and photo centers will transition to the new cards by the end of October 2017.
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PennDOT said the new cards will be phased in over the next four-year renewal cycle to replace existing cards. Both card designs will be in circulation during the transition period.
Enhanced security features on the new cards will improve fraud prevention and protect from counterfeiting and alteration, according to PennDOT.
Some of the enhanced security 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.
An additional change to the cards is the elimination of the magnetic strip on the back.
The update is unrelated to the REAL ID Act of 2005.
The new cards are not REAL ID-compliant and “system, building infrastructure and process changes will be necessary for Pennsylvania to issue REAL ID-compliant products,” PennDOT said in a news release.
REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards are expected to be available in 2019, meaning some people could get two IDs in two years. As it currently stands, Pennsylvanians will need a passport at U.S. airports starting in January.
The governor's office said it has asked for an extension for the REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses. Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage.
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- Wolf signs Real ID law, expects new licenses in 2019
Cox Media Group
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