New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has announced his approval to change the design of the state’s driver’s licenses, including using polycarbonate, laser engraved material that will incorporate black and white photos instead of the current color ones. While he admitted that the new cards would be more expensive to produce, “they will be harder to alter or make into fake IDS.”
It was also announced that drivers under 21 would be issued a different card design to make they easier to identify.
The new contractor, CBN Secure Technologies of Danville, VA is owned by Canadian Bank Note based in Ottawa and currently produces licenses for Virginia. However, while CBN Vice President Gordon McKechnie stated that his company is “ready to get going,” British-based De La Rue, which has been producing New York’s drivers’ licenses for the past 16 years before losing their bid this summer called the selection “profoundly flawed,” and warned that the new plan will end up “costing taxpayers millions more than is necessary.” They also stated that the will seek legal action to have the CBN contract voided. At the same time, several state lawmakers raising questions about the winning bid.
DiNapoli, meanwhile has admitted that despite the fact that the new cards would be more expensive to produce, “they will be harder to alter or make into fake IDS.”
Although the DMV plans to begin issuing the new licenses later this year, the 11 million drivers in New York will not have to change their current cards until their normal renewal time.
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