September 16, 2003

Sending teens back to school with the new vertical driver’s license or ID card is a good lesson in safety, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land said today.

Land said that parents should encourage their kids to take advantage of Michigan’s free exchange program, which ends Oct. 1. Residents under the age of 21 can turn in their current horizontal-style licenses or ID cards at any branch office and receive the new vertically formatted card free-of charge. The state will still replace the licenses upon request after Oct. 1, but the standard $9 duplicate license fee will be charged.

"Fall is back-to-school time for most teens and that means we should all be more safety conscious," Land said. "One way to protect our kids is by encouraging them to trade in their old licenses for the new version. It’s designed with their well-being in mind. Keeping alcohol and tobacco out of underage hands will help prevent teens from learning a tragic lesson."

Michigan’s Vertical Identification Program began July 1. Its goal is to keep minors from buying alcohol, tobacco and other age-restricted products. More than 83,000 of the new licenses and ID cards were issued in July and August alone.

Land and a broad coalition of safety advocates have launched the "We Check to Protect!" campaign to heighten public awareness of the new law. The alliance is comprised of government, retail, safety, law-enforcement, and broadcasting organizations.

The redesigned licenses are being issued to residents under 21 who receive new licenses or IDs, as well as renewals or replacements. Licenses with the standard horizontal design are still valid for minors who already possess them. It will take about five years to fully integrate the new licenses within the young driving population.

The vertical format gives restaurants, bars, convenience stores, casinos and law enforcement an instant visual cue to correctly determine a license-holder’s age.

The revamped layout also creates a more tamper-resistant design to thwart attempted alterations or forgeries.

About 20 states use the vertical license system and many report declines in the number of illegal sales to minors.

More information on the program can be found on the Department of State Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos.

Editor’s note: Radio actualities are available on the Department of State news line at (517) 241-2800.

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> More information on Vertical Drivers License Program.

>  ‘We Check to Protect’ Press Release from July 1, 2003

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