Company urging hundreds to return faulty IDs, licenses

A printing company is asking hundreds of people to return the Colorado identifications, driver’s licenses and permits they received because of a printing error.

Since August 1, people who cannot prove legal residency in the U.S. or who can only demonstrate temporary residency, have been able to apply for a state ID, driver’s license, or permit, under the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act. To attain one, applicants must make an appointment at one of five DMV offices in the state, provide the necessary paperwork, pay the required fees and pass a written and driving test for the driver’s license and permit.

The IDs, permits and licenses have a disclaimer saying, “Not valid for federal identification, voting, or public services.” But last week, MorphoTrust USA, the company that prints the cards for the DMV said there was a printing error and 524 of those that should have had the disclaimer were printed without it.

“As soon as we learned of the defective cards, MorphoTrust has fully cooperated with the State of Colorado to remedy the situation as quickly as possible,” the company said in a statement.

A spokesperson with the DMV released the following statement:

“The Department of Revenue took action immediately after notification of the printing error of driver’s licenses, instruction permits, and identification cards for customers of the SB13-251 program. DOR invalidated the cards and notified the affected customers while working closely with the vendor, MorphoTrust, USA, to ensure an expedited resolution. The DMV correctly issued the temporary state card to the customer; it was the vendor that issued the incorrect permanent state card. This printing error was no fault of the DMV or the customer.”

MorphoTrust said it mailed recipients of the faulty cards a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope for them to mail them back. They said once they receive them they will mail the correct cards, along with a $100 American Express Card, through overnight mail.

Activists who pushed for the new law are also urging the community to return the cards, and say they think most people will comply.

“We have to be respectful of the way the law was established, (we knew) that the license would have a disclaimer,” said Jose Baez, a volunteer with Driver’s Licenses For All. “So it’s common sense. It’s what we have to do, give back the license and wait for the correct one.”