Pennsylvania First in Nation to Adopt New Driver License Security Feature

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation this week deployed a new security hologram that makes it easier to spot fake drivers’ licenses and identification cards—making it the first state in the nation to use this feature.

“A driver’s license or identification card has always been a trusted source for establishing a person’s true identity,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. “We are steadfast in our resolve to combat counterfeit forms of identification, which ultimately jeopardizes lives and holds great potential for harm to our national security.”

The new hologram suppresses the “rainbow" colors normally associated with holographic images. The result is a hologram that appears to switch between white and black as the image is moved. Also, because the new image is of a much higher resolution, it is clearly visible in bright, moderate and even low-light environments. 

This state-of-the-art technology is added to an array of security features including a holographic overlay of county names and keystone outlines already embedded in current license and ID cards.

For more information and to see an example of the new security feature, visit PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website at www.dmv.state.pa.us and click on Identity/Security.