The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License Presents Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles With Homeland Security Award

WASHINGTON, July 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License (CSDL), a Washington D.C.-based non-profit, presented its Homeland Security Award to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) on July 19, 2010. The Department is being recognized for advances in driver's license security and applying new procedures to confirm the identities of applicants that align with the federal regulations implementing Public Law 109-13.

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The award cites the Florida DHSMV for their "Gather, Go, Get" initiative that "Aligns driver's license procedures with the eighteen Interim Benchmarks of the federal regulation implementing Title II of the Real ID Act of 2005." It also recognized the Department's program, "Adds security features into the Florida's driver's licenses and identification cards to provide the highest levels of counterfeit resistance," and "Incorporates high security standards for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records system that protects the privacy and personal information of all Florida driver's license and identification card customers."

Donald Kendall, Chairman of the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License Board of Directors, said, "The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles achievement in completing the complex process upgrade necessary to meet the federal security benchmarks for driver's licenses is exemplary. Florida's legislators and elected officials, along with state residents, can be proud that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has advanced their driver's license processes as among the most secure in the United States."

Based on this year's annual assessment of anti-counterfeiting and anti-fraud protections for Florida's driver's licenses and IDs, CSDL is proud to award the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for providing the residents of Florida with a secure and reliable form of personal identification. Florida is one of 11 states that are authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to affix the "gold star" on their driver's licenses and IDs, denoting compliance with the 18 Interim Benchmarks of PL 109-13's regulations.  

On January 1, 2010, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles initiated new documentation requirements for Florida residents wishing to obtain a driver's license or identification card. These new cards, affixed with a star denoting compliance with federal driver's license security standards, possess a high degree of counterfeit resistance. Concurrent to the process enhancements, the Department launched a statewide educational awareness campaign to alert residents to the document requirements and to provide a resource for questions and explanations for these changes.  

Florida DHSMV Executive Director Julie L. Jones stated, "Florida has a proud history of leading the nation in providing secure credentials to our customers. This Department and Florida's Tax Collectors have worked extensively to provide a system that validates and protects each customer's identity, enhances security, and benefits our business community. We appreciate the recognition of our efforts by the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License, and look forward to continuing our role in creating a safer Florida."   

Brian Zimmer, CSDL President, stated, "The Florida DHSMV has done a first class job of informing Florida residents before the process began and throughout the process of rolling out the new procedures. In particular, the clarity with which the Florida DHSMV's initiative 'Gather, Go, Get' systematically explained what would occur and why it improved the safety of Florida residents should be an example followed by others."

CSDL continuously collects data from each state and territory motor vehicle agency, specifically identity vetting processes, to prevent identity fraud, and physical security features of each motor vehicle agency's driver's license and identification card to prevent counterfeiting.

The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License (CSDL) is a 501 (c)(3) non-partisan, not for profit, crime prevention, education charity, supported by donor contributions from across the United States. Our slogan, "Working to protect the identity of every American" embodies our commitment to higher standards for both government and private entities that issue identity credentials, especially state agencies that issue driver's licenses and ID cards. CSDL undertakes research projects addressing best practices for DMVs, compliance with federal laws and regulations, identity fraud prevention and related identity management topics. CSDL provides research results and educational programs to the public and to state and federal officials.

Details of the Florida's award are available on CSDL's website at www.secure-license.org.

SOURCE Coalition for a Secure Driver's License