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Keep receipt with driver’s license
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Lt. Chris Heverly of the Ohio State Highway patrol Canfield Post displays the new (bottom) and old state driver's licenses. The license underwent changes to its appearance last month to make reading the information easier for law enforcement.
By Jon Moffett
Ohio driver’s licenses have a different look.
YOUNGSTOWN — Ohio drivers renewing their licenses since November have been issued more than just a card.
License bureaus, such as the North Side Merchants on Gypsy Lane, are also handing out notes recommending drivers keep their receipts handy.
One such notice reads: “Please advise customers that the Ohio DL/ID has been revised and looks different. Some law enforcement officials may not have been informed of the new format changes to the Ohio DL/ID. Please advise customers to keep their BMV receipt with their new DL/ID for a period of time.”
The new-look license features alterations to the front and back of the card and was made effective Nov. 3 at the height of the 2008 presidential campaign.
Lindsey Bohrer, public information officer with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said the changes were planned in advance and are minimal.
“The changes to the license are very minor,” Bohrer said. “For example, on the back of the license where it used to have the entire list of restrictions, it only has [the] ones that apply to you, which makes it easier for law enforcement to read the license.”
The “table of contents” look has been removed from the back of the license. If a driver has no restrictions, the box will remain blank.
The front has been tweaked slightly. The driver’s birth date and the license expiration date are located next to the photo. They had previously been on the left side of the license. The class, expiration date and other data now appear under the license number.
Bohrer said the information was reorganized “in a more logical way.”
She added that nothing had changed in terms of policy or regulation for obtaining the license.
The alterations to the license coincide with planned changes for the state’s temporary permit, Bohrer said.
Local law enforcement agency officials said they were made aware of the changes. Police departments were given information regarding the changes as well as pictures of the new licenses so officers wouldn’t confuse them with counterfeits.
“They did send us something that we posted for the officers to be aware,” said Chief Brian Goodin of the Poland Township Police Department. “So that way, when they see one of the new licenses, it isn’t something they haven’t seen before.”
Chief David Blystone of the Canfield Police Department said the state informs departments well in advance and as a result, “I think that’s why there haven’t really been many issues with it.”
Bohrer said the state hasn’t received many calls with issues either.
“The first week it went out we had a few minor incidents because they were so new,” she said. “We’re expecting that there will be some incidents, but nothing serious.”
Bohrer said because the changes happened so recently, many officers may not have seen the new licenses yet.
“As we go along, and this is still new, we’re assuming there are still going to be a few minor glitches as the licenses become more common.”
jmoffett@vindy.com