Singing Potatoes
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Thursday, 11 November 2004
License to Ill

Florida has a new system for making drivers' licenses and ID cards. For now, you can only get the new ones if you renew (or change your address, or replace a lost card) over the Internet.

I renewed both my license and my auto registration on October 1. I got the registration almost immediately. But my birthday (and thus my license's expiration date) came and went, and no card.

Monday, I tried again to renew my license over the Internet (because I really wanted one of the snazzy new cards). It told me I couldn't do so because I wasn't within 18 months of the expiration date. Arrrgh.

Conveniently, I work in the DHSMV building, so as I was getting my photo taken for my access card yesterday, I asked if I could renew my license there. "No problem!" the guy said. And then, thirty seconds later, "That's weird." And he took my license and disappeared for fifteen minutes.

According to their system, they'd mailed my new license on October 20th. So his supervisor came out and authorized a free replacement. Unfortunately, it's the boring old license style.

But at least now I've got a new picture in the DHSMV computer, so if I should happen to accidentally misplace my license, I can get the new style with the new picture.

Hey, where's my wallet?

Posted by godfrey (link)
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Comments
What's different about the new ones? I got a new license Friday, since it expired Thursday, and I don't really see much difference, but then I never was much of a detail guy.
Posted by Lunchbox on 11 Nov 2004 11:12
If you went into an office to get your license renewed, you won't see a difference. At the moment, the new ones are only available if you renew over the Internet (which means you'll be stuck with your old picture).

The new ones are much more colorful, for a start. Here's a PDF brochure about the new license format.

I don't know if I'm permitted to disclose the security features on the cards, but there's some really nifty stuff on them to prevent forgery.

Posted by Godfrey on 11 Nov 2004 12:34