Central-issue license procedure to require brief closures statewide

Idaho driver's licenses and identification (ID) cards will have a new look, state-of-the-art security features, and a new way of being issued beginning this summer.

To prepare for the transition, county licensing offices will close for half-day increments during early and mid-June for staff training, equipment upgrades and installation. (To review the closure schedule, see the tables below.)

Schedules are subject to change. Some offices also are in the process of remodeling, and may be closed on additional dates. Customers are advised to check with individual county offices to confirm daily schedules.

Similar equipment upgrades are happening at all of Idaho's 53 county driver licensing locations between May and July.
The updated system will help protect drivers and ID card holders from identity theft and fraud by incorporating security features that are nearly impossible to counterfeit. The switch also means cards will be issued from a central secure location instead of over-the-counter.

With this new central issuance process, applicants leave the county office with a temporary paper document, valid for 30 days. The new plastic license or ID card is produced at the central production facility and mailed to the customer within about 10 business days. Because it is mailed, it will be critical for applicants to provide a correct address.

The temporary card is issued for driving and identity purposes until the new plastic card arrives in the mail. It includes a photo, the same information that appears on the plastic card (name, address, date of birth, height, weight, etc.), and a machine-readable bar code containing that information.

Current Idaho licenses or ID cards remain valid through their expiration date; however, individuals can opt to renew a license or ID card within one year of the expiration date.

There's no additional cost to the consumer. License and ID card fees remain the same: $30 for as four-year license and $55 for an eight-year license (if it's within a year of expiration); $15 for duplicate licenses; $10 or $20 for ID cards. Individuals with valid licenses or ID cards that are not within the one-year renewal window have the option of surrendering the card and applying for a duplicate card.

All other license and ID card application processes will remain basically unchanged. Fees for all drivers licenses and ID cards will also remain the same.

"The central issuance system is an established process that has proven successful and secure," says Alan Frew, DMV Division Administrator. "This is proven technology shown to improve the security of the license, the data behind it, and the security of local DMV offices."

Neighboring states including Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington are among those that issue driver license and identification cards from a central location.

The new cards incorporate numerous security features, including micro-printing, ghost images and a laser-perforated pattern that reveals the shape of Idaho when held to the light.  Not all security features are evident, and the enhanced security features make it obvious when a card has been tampered with.

More information is available at http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/centralissuance.htm.

DMV office closures

Northern Idaho

County office Closure date   County office Closure date
Kootenai Drivers License
Coeur d'Alene
Monday, June 6 Boundary Drivers License
Bonners Ferry
Thursday, June 9
Bonner Drivers License
Sandpoint
Tuesday, June 7 Shoshone Drivers License
Wallace
Monday, June 13
Bonner Drivers License
Priest River
Wednesday, June 8
Benewah Drivers License
St. Maries
Tuesday, June 14

South-Central Idaho

County office Closure date   County office Closure date

Twin Falls Driver's License
Twin Falls
Monday, June 6 Blaine Driver's License
Hailey
Monday, June 27
Twin Falls Driver's License
Buhl
Tuesday, June 7 Camas Driver's License
Fairfield
Tuesday, June 28
Cassia Driver's License
Burley
Wednesday, June 8 Gooding Driver's License
Gooding
Wednesday, June 29
Minidoka Driver's License
Rupert
Thursday, June 9 Jerome Driver's License
Jerome
Thursday, June 30
Lincoln Driver's License
Shoshone
Friday, June 10    

Eastern Idaho 

County office Closure date   County office Closure date
Bonneville Driver's License
Idaho Falls
Monday, June 6 Lemhi Driver's License
Salmon
Monday, June 13
Jefferson Driver's License
Rigby
Tuesday, June 7 Custer Driver's License
Challis
Tuesday, June 14
Madison Driver's License
Rexburg
Wednesday, June 8 Butte Driver's License
Arco
Wednesday, June 15
Fremont Driver's License
St. Anthony
Thursday, June 9 Teton Driver's License
Driggs
Thursday, June 16
Jefferson Driver's License
Mud Lake
Friday, June 10 Clark Driver's License
Dubois

Friday, June 17

Published 5-27-2011