Minnesota No Longer Cutting Corners– To Void Drivers Licenses, That Is

If you've ever had to head down to the DMV to get a new driver's license, you might remember how they would clip the lower right corner to 'void' your old license. Well, they're not cutting corners anymore; they're using a brand-new way to void your license.

According to this story on BringMeTheNews.com, Minnesota is now employing a new way of invalidating your old license-- by stamping (or, more accurately, 'perforating') the word "void" over the photo on the left side of your old ID.

Why the switch to the new way of doing things?

The story says, "The change is to bring Minnesota in compliance with federal law, which says all other methods of voiding licenses and ID cards are insufficient. All DVS exam stations, driver’s license agent offices and correctional facilities are equipped to switch to this method starting Monday after the DVS obtained a federal grant to purchase void perforators for each office."

Ah, so that's why: Because the Feds said we had to switch. (As an aside, I wonder just who manufactures those 'void perforators' and how much they cost. Whoever it is must have done a  pretty decent amount of business if all of the driver's license offices and correctional facilities in EVERY state had to purchase these new perforators!)

Having the word "void" stamped on your photo does seem like a better way of invalidating your old ID. I remember when I moved here to Minnesota a few years ago, they merely clipped the corner of my former Wisconsin license, and I wondered just how secure that method was.

Turns out, I apparently wasn't the only one asking that question.

The story goes on to say that "driver’s licenses and ID cards are invalidated when a person applies for a new or duplicate card, in order to prevent fraudulent use with the old one."