DMV honored for federal license distribution

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles will be receiving the Homeland Security Award 1 p.m. Monday from a Washington D.C. based non-profit, in Carson City.

The department is being recognized for its Advanced Secure Issuance driver's license and identification card. The president of the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License, Brian Zimmer will be in Carson City to present the award.

Twenty-one employees will also receive certificates of achievement for their work on the project. The award cites the DMV for "Accomplishing alignment of driver's license procedures with the 18 interim benchmarks of the federal regulations ... with minimal cost to state taxpayers" and "incorporating security features into Nevada drivers' licenses and state issued identity cards to provide an extremely high level of counterfeit resistance."

Donald Kendall, Chairman of the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License Board of Directors, said "Each year our staff evaluates progress made by the driver licensing agencies in every state. The Nevada DMV's achievement in completing the complex process upgrade necessary to meet the federal security benchmarks for driver's licenses is exemplary. Nevada's Governor, along with state residents can be proud that the DMV has placed their driver's license processes as among the most secure in the United States." The DMV began ASI in Carson City last month and completed the statewide roll-out in Fallon Thursday. The ASI card, also known as "the card with the star," is marked with a gold star indicating that it's materially compliant with the Real ID Act's regulations and can be used as identification for federal purposes. The DMV will continue to renew its previously-issued cards until 2014 as long as the card-holder has no changes. Because the DMV has met the first 18 benchmarks of the Real ID Act's regulations, previously-issued cards will also be good for federal purposes until at least 2014. "It will be an honor to accept the award on behalf of the department," DMV Director Edgar Roberts said. "Advanced Secure Issuance has been a department-wide effort that has taken years to accomplish. It's gratifying to have our efforts recognized nationally." Brian Zimmer, CSDL President stated: "The Nevada DMV has done a first class job of informing Nevada residents before the process began and throughout the process of rolling out the new procedures. In particular, the clarity with which the Nevada DMV website systematically explained what would occur and why it improved the safety of Nevada residents should be an example followed by others." Details on the ASI license and ID card are on the department's website at www.dmvnv.com