New Retro-Look Driver’s Licenses Aim to Foil Forgers
The New York State driver’s licenses set to debut in July may look old-school, but they’re the very latest in technology.
Black and white photos are designed to force ID screeners to focus on individuals’ features, rather than hair color. A hard polycarbonate card will replace the old bendable one, and an array of new features such as floating “ghost images” and laser engraving will supposedly make the new licenses nearly impossible to forge.
New York will be the second state to adopt the new technology. In Virginia, which made the switch in 2009, attempted forgeries have been largely unconvincing so far.
The new licenses will cost about a dollar more apiece to produce than the old ones, but drivers will not be responsible for the increase.
The change represents the state’s latest effort to combat a booming online market for fake IDs – popular among underage drinkers, but potentially also with more serious criminals, including terrorists.
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