Minnesota “VOID” Perforation Helps Identify Invalidated Driver’s Licenses

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) of Minnesota has recently begun indicating invalid driver’s licenses and identification (ID) cards by piercing them with a hole punch that spells out “VOID”. In an effort to comply with updated federal guidelines mandating that invalid commercial driver’s licenses be perforated with a “VOID” hole punch, the DPS Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division has begun marking all invalid cards with the new method to reduce errors and avoid confusion. The change was effective on July 6, 2015.   In Minnesota, there are three ways a driver’s license or ID card becomes invalid: 1) applying to renew a license or ID card, 2) applying for a duplicate license or ID card, or 3) applying for a new license or ID card when moving from another U.S. state. The old method for marking invalid licenses and ID cards involved clipping the bottom right corner, a technique which left leeway for fraudulent use. The new “VOID” perforation is both eye-catching and tangible, and better for enforcement officers often working in dim or dark conditions. In 2014 alone, the Minnesota DVS issued 1,334,000 driver’s licenses and ID cards. All of the DVS driver’s license agent offices, exam posts, and correctional facilities are now equipped with the “VOID” perforators, which were purchased using a federal grant.