Colorado DMV driver license offices get security update
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Department of Motor Vehicles is implementing new upgrades for all drivers license offices across Colorado. These upgrades are aimed to better protect driver data and reduce wait times.
“All of our state offices and all of our county offices that issue documents on behalf of the state are getting an upgrade,” said Director Driver License for the State of Colorado Rosalie Johnson.
The state announced the upgrade five days after KRDO reported on Colorado legally profiting from the sale of drivers' personal data. Johnson could not comment on that because she says records are handled through a different department.
However, Johnson says this sort of upgrade happens every five years. It’s meant to make things run faster and smoother behind the scenes while also safeguarding Coloradans’ personal information.
“So we know the stigma behind the DMV, right? It takes forever to get anything done,” Johnson said. “Part of that is because there are so many steps and so many things to do while we’re processing to make sure we get this to the right person so that we can follow the federal REAL ID Act and we can make sure we don’t have any identity fraud issues.”
The update started earlier in November and will continue through mid-January. The state expects upgraded facial recognition to eventually allow for more services to be available online. That could be especially helpful during the pandemic as Governor Jared Polis encourages Coloradans to stay home due to COVID-19 concerns.
“Not to say that there was an issue with security before, but just added layers always make sure that we have the most current and updated security policies,” Johnson said.
The Department of Motor Vehicles says the following offices will close for a half-day to implement the update:
- Friday, Nov. 20 — Cortez
- Monday, Nov. 23 — Craig
- Tuesday, Nov. 24 — Steamboat Springs and Alamosa
- Friday, Dec. 4 — Trinidad
- Monday, Dec. 7 — Lamar
- Friday, Dec. 18 — Fort Morgan
