Utah Unveils New Driver License Design

It’s never been more important to protect personal identity and tighten security on identification documents, and Utah is taking a new initiative to protect its citizens at the Department of Public Safety – Driver License Division this summer. As of June 2016, the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Driver License Division has begun issuing newly designed driver license and identification cards (see below).

Complying with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), measures taken to improve fraud protection, counterfeiting and alteration include laser perforation, 1D and 2D barcodes containing demographic information and a unique ID number, and a laser-engraved ghost image embedded into the license.

According to a recent press release from the Utah Department of Public Safety, new licenses can be verified by simply holding them up to the light, due to a beehive graphic embedded into the cardstock on the back. Drivers should expect their new licenses to arrive within 6-8 weeks of application or renewal. While awaiting the official license in the mail, drivers can feel confident in the protection of their identity with their temporary licenses as well. A number of security measures are embedded into temporary Utah driver’s licenses, including a ‘VOID’ watermark that will appear only when the security paper is photocopied, a “Split Fountain” in the background (color gradient), and a delicate arch pattern behind the ID number. While new cards are being distributed already, the initiative to switch all license-holders over to the new design will be rolled out over the course of the next five years, replacing drivers’ current cards as they expire. For more information on the new cards and to see other variations of the new Utah driver’s license designs, click here.