Some Pa. Driver's Licenses to be Replaced Due to Security Flaw

By Alison Smith:

Some Pennsylvania driver’s licenses will be replaced after a security flaw was discovered, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

“PennDOT learned late yesterday that laminate supplied by vendors for driver’s licenses did not have the proper security image on the front of the license. The image is not visible without use of a black light device,” Deputy PennDOT Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kurt J. Myers said.

“Because of the flawed security feature, the original license may not be accepted as proof of identification when scanned by black light devices,” Myers said.

PennDOT doesn’t know yet how many driver’s licenses were affected, the transit agency said. All the licenses in question were issued between November and Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The licenses are being replaced free of charge by the vendor, MorphoTrust USA, PennDOT said.

“PennDOT will be mailing replacement driver’s licenses to affected drivers at no cost to the drivers. When they receive the replacement license, they should destroy the original license,” Myers said.

In the meantime, there should be issue using the impacted driver’s licenses at airport security checkpoints, because “TSA references a different security feature on the license or identification card in its verification process.”