New driver’s licenses, ID cards coming out
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration says a newly designed Arkansas driver’s license and ID card will be issued beginning July 23 in Hot Springs, with each of the 134 Revenue Offices throughout the state issuing the new card by Aug. 28.
The new cards will be available July 23 at the office at 200 Woodbine; on July 24 at the office at 1609 Albert Pike; and on July 25 at the Hot Springs Village office at 4656 Highway 7 north.
The new card features distinctive Arkansas images, including the gold front doors of the state Capitol along with diamonds, a news release said. The back of the card features a full image of the Capitol.
Existing licenses and cards, including those issued recently, remain effective through the expiration date, but a duplicate featuring the new version can be ordered either in person at a Revenue Office or online at http:// mydmv.arkansas.gov.
The cost is $10 for a license and $5 for an ID. Both will be available online beginning Monday. “Arkansas Real IDs” are also eligible for a duplicate order either in person or online.
Printed on a highly durable card material, the new cards include every cardholder’s personal information, photo with a “ghost” image and one signature. A security laminate covers the card, which not only increases the durability but also makes it more tamper resistant.
The orientation for all the cardholders younger than 21 years old will be vertical instead of horizontal. This feature makes the card recognizable as an underage document. Every vertical card shows the date the individual will turn 18 or 21.
Cards with a gold star on the top right corner will be an Arkansas Real
ID driver’s license or state identification card in compliance with Federal Real ID Act of 2005. The non-Real ID card will be marked as “Not for Federal ID.”
The font and color of Arkansas and class on the new card will help quickly identify the type of license as follows:
• Blue — Noncommercial driver’s license.
• Maroon — Commercial driver’s license.
• Green — State identification card.
• Red — Learner’s driver’s license.
• Orange — Intermediate license.
“Over the last three years DFA has prioritized the use of new technology to improve and simplify the services we provide to Arkansans,” DFA Director Larry Walther said in the release. “The new license is a great example of this effort. We incorporated new security features that protect citizens from fraud through duplication.”
There were 2.15 million active Arkansas driver’s licenses in 2017 along with more than 353,000 ID cards. Arkansas is a “one card state,” allowing each citizen either one driver’s license or ID card.