The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) this week announced the release of new designs for driver's licenses, permits, and identification cards featuring advanced security features designed to prevent fraud.
According to a DMV press release, the new credentials are the most secure in the state's history and are claimed to be among the most secure identifying documents worldwide.
The new cards are made of polycarbonate and are personalized using laser engraving technology, resulting in a distinctive look, feel, and sound. The cards are stiffer than their predecessors and feature embossed and debossed patterns and lettering on the surface. When dropped on a table, the cards produce a unique metallic sound.
The somewhat busy design of the new cards showcases iconic North Carolina imagery, with shades of blue and green representing the state's rolling hills and natural beauty. The front of the card features the state flower (dogwood), the state flag, the state border outline, a marbled salamander, and a lighthouse, all set against the backdrop of the western rolling hills. The back of the card depicts a Colonial Spanish mustang grazing along one of North Carolina's eastern beaches.
These design elements are part of more than 50 security features incorporated into the new cards to help law enforcement deter and detect fraud. The DMV will begin producing the new card design later this week, gradually phasing out the current design by the end of June. Existing licenses and ID cards will remain valid until their expiration date.