New licences, IDs won’t be given out over the counter

Nova Scotia and the other Atlantic provinces are introducing measures to make driver’s licence and photo ID cards better protected against identity theft, fraud and forgery.

Beginning next month, a new, highly secure driver’s licence and photo ID card will be printed at a central facility shared by all four provinces and mailed to clients within two weeks.

“e main reason for this change is to protect Nova Scotians against identity theft and fraud,” Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Lloyd Hines said in a news release.

“ese changes will help us keep pace with the latest security and technology advances, and bring us in line with the rest of the country.”

Nova Scotians won’t have to get a new licence or photo ID card until their current one is up for renewal. Since cards now won’t be printed at Access Nova Scotia Centres and Registry of Motor Vehicles o ces, people renewing their licence will be given a 30day temporary document to use until their new licence arrives.

ere is no fee increase and the new cards will be implemented over the next ve years as drivers’ licences expire.

For more information, visit www.novascotia.ca/driverslicence.