Check out the new PA driver's licenses

York Daily Record

Drivers will be getting new licenses and identification cards, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The new design has enhanced security features, and all driver and photo centers will have the new cards by the end of October.

PennDOT has revealed a new design for Pennsylvania identification cards and driver's licenses, which include more security features.

The enhanced security features include a larger main photo and smaller "ghost photo," a barcode on the front, a laser perforation embedded onto the card and lamination with a pattern that reads "Virtue, Liberty, Independence," according to a news release.

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Also, there is a keystone outline and "1787" on the card. That's the year Pennsylvania ratified the U.S. Constitution.

The magnetic strip also has been eliminated from the card.

PennDOT began a pilot program with new products on June 19. They will be phased in over the next four-year renewal cycle and will replace the existing cards. Both current and new card designs will be in circulation during the transition period.

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The new design is not related to the federal REAL ID Act, which mandates changes in security standards and requirements for driver's licenses and identification cards for their acceptance by the federal government as proof of identification. This requires "system, building infrastructure and process changes," the release notes.

REAL ID-compliant licenses and cards will be available in 2019, PennDOT said.

The department has been working on the driver's license update for nearly two years, spokeswoman Alexis Campbell said.

She pointed out that Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation less than a month ago that would allow residents to opt for a REAL ID-compliant driver's license.

That's not a reason to stop PennDOT's order of business. "It's our job to make sure we deliver the best and most modern products to our customers," she said.

Campbell said PennDOT is in contact with the Department of Homeland Security about about what changes the agency will have to make in order to offer REAL-ID to residents.

"There's still a lot to figure out," she said, adding that PennDOT will keep the public updated about the timeline.

You can find additional information at www.dmv.pa.gov.