Starting July 31, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will implement a new security measure to protect personal information on state-issued IDs and driver's licenses, the department said in a release Friday.
The update, part of new legislation amending Florida Statute 322.14 (1)(a), requires all driver’s licenses and identification cards to include at least four randomly generated numbers.
The change addresses concerns about the current system, which encodes personal details like birth year, the first letter of the last name, and gender into the ID numbers. By introducing random numbers, the state aims to add an extra layer of security and help prevent identity theft.
At a local DMV in Collier County, Naples resident John Athanasopoulos was among those learning about the upcoming changes.
Athanasopoulos supports the new measure, saying, "Absolutely, yeah, I don't see anything wrong with it. I don't see how it would bother anybody if it's for security purposes, you know, so I'm all in for it."
Customers renewing or replacing their licenses or ID cards, either in person or online, will receive a new number. First-time applicants will also be issued a card with the new security feature.
For current ID holders, there is no need to rush to the DMV for an update. The existing licenses and IDs will remain valid until they expire.