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.