Getting a driver's license in Hamilton County and across the state will be different, starting the end of March, according to Hamilton County Treasurer Deb Leksell.
She said the process will change from a counter presentation of a driver's license or ID card, to a central issuance.
A customer at the treasurer's office will go through the same process as before but will be handed back their license or identification card along with a temporary document that will be good for 30 days, according to Leksell.
The information will be sent to a central issuance facility for security screening and then will be mailed to the applicant, usually with two weeks.
Leksell said the security screening is an image verification process that compares the digital photo of the applicant with other digital photos to determine whether it matches other photos in the database. If a match is found, other than the person applying for the license or ID card, delivery of the card will be to the Iowa DOT. A fraud investigator will then review the application and card, she said.
"This prevents the actual DL or ID card from reaching the hands of someone applying for a card for the purpose of fraud or deception," Leksell said.
"We've been asking customers to take off their glasses and not to smile to facilitate the image verification for the last several months while the process has been tested," she said.
"Central issuance will be a little different for all of us, but we'll get used to it," Leksell said. The benefits of better security of identity, prevention of identity theft, and public safety outweigh any inconvenience, according to the treasurer.Neighboring states Minnesota and Nebraska, as well as 20 other states are currently using the central issuance process.
"I would like to thank the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors for deciding to keep the driver's license station open in this tight fiscal year," said Leksell. "They recognize what a tremendous service this is for our older and younger drivers, in particular, even though our service is only half time.
The driver's license station is located in the Treaurer's office in the lower level of the Hamilton County Courthouse and it is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.
For more information, call the Treasurer's office at 832-8549.