INDIANAPOLIS (June 6, 2007) - Governor Mitch Daniels and the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles today unveiled a new driver license and identification card that will help battle identify theft, card tampering and detection of underage drinking through use of innovative technology.

The new license features a vertical format for those under 21 years of age, with the dates the recipient turns age 18 and 21 highlighted in color.

It also features a number of embedded digital enhancements to ensure authenticity, some detectable only with a black light, and a 2D barcode on the back with embedded redundant data from the front of the card.  The new design will also include the state map in the header and state seal overlapping the state map in the background.   

"This innovation brings protection against fraud, identity theft, and underage drinking and smoking, all while saving millions of dollars. It's another step toward the BMV Hoosiers deserve," said Daniels.

The first new cards will be issued to customers on Friday at the Pine Valley license branch in Fort Wayne as part of a pilot program, followed on June 12 at licenses branches in Greenfield, Anderson, Connersville, and Liberty.  By early August, all remaining license branches will be issuing the new licenses and ID cards.

BMV Commissioner Ron Stiver said those who benefit from the new card -- in addition to Hoosier drivers and ID cardholders -- are the BMV, law enforcement officials and retailers of age-sensitive products like alcohol and tobacco. 

The new system will produce licenses in about 45 seconds; current production time is about 3 minutes.

Stiver said the new licenses will result in a total cost savings of $2.5 million during the six-year contract period.  Each current license costs about $1.27 to produce. The cost to produce the new license will be 99 cents per card. 

The enhanced system provides new equipment and software for all license branch locations -- more than 200 workstations and camera towers and new, secure, state-of-the-art printers - all included in the per card transaction fee.

Digimarc Corp., which has supplied the equipment the BMV uses to produce Hoosier driver licenses since 1982, will be the primary vendor. The company employs 60 people in its Fort Wayne operations.

Of all the advantages of the new card, Stiver emphasized the security improvements of the new system as paramount, citing the Indiana State Police for its collaboration and input to identify the data features needed on the card that most effectively aid law enforcement efforts.

"We have worked with the BMV on the security features of the new driver license, which will make it easier for all law enforcement officers to detect fraudulent identifications," said Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell.

In addition to law enforcement, the BMV is also working with Hoosier businesses which serve or sell alcohol or tobacco, raising awareness about the new license format and how it can help identify minors who may drink and drive. 

In 2006, of young drivers in Indiana aged 16-19 involved in fatal crashes who were tested for alcohol, more than 28 percent were legally intoxicated at the time of the crash.

"This new format will help our associates do a better job of preventing the sale of age-restricted products, particularly tobacco and alcoholic beverages," said Grant Monahan, president of the Indiana Retail Council.

"Grocery and convenience store operators are especially pleased with the special format that allows at-a-glance identification of underage customers," said Joseph A. Lackey, president of the Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association.

The enhanced licenses should also help Indiana prepare for anticipated security requirements of the federal Real ID Act, which establishes minimum nationwide security standards for driver licenses and other state-issued identification documents.

There are about 4.2 million licensed drivers in the state of Indiana, according to the BMV.  In the past 12 months, about 1.5 million driver licenses were issued or renewed.  About 264,000 ID cards were issued during the same time period.

Indiana last updated its driver license format in 1999.

More information about the driver license can be found at www.in.gov/bmv.

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