1. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced the new look late last month. What are the changes?
A: The new driver’s licenses incorporate the latest technology which makes them more difficult to counterfeit, alter, or duplicate – they’re supposed to prevent theft and fraud and help keep your identity safe.
The state said the new IDs incorporate cutting edge security and printing techniques, like elaborate overlapping of data and graphics, and laser engraved elements that will show if the document has been altered or is fraudulent.
Besides the fraud prevention, there’s artistic changes — the regional landmark buildings in the background are gone, now the Tennessee state flag is in the background with an image of the state capitol and the state's nickname "The Volunteer State" in blue letters centered at the top, instead of off to the side.
2. How much did it cost to implement the changes?
A: The State Department of Safety and Homeland Security hired a company called Idemia.
The charged the state $657,500 for the new drivers license design.
They are a multinational technology company headquartered in France, they provides identity-related security services, and sells facial recognition and other biometric identification products and software to private companies and governments.
IDEMIA produced 3 billion identity documents (passports, identity cards, driving licenses, etc.) worldwide in 2020. Idemia says they’re use by more than 600 governments, state and federal organizations.
The cost is not going to passed onto drivers – they’ll still pay the $28 to renew their licenses when they expire by the date printed on their existing card. Drivers don’t have to get new cards before then.