STATE OF NEVADA
NEW LOOK FOR NEVADA DRIVERS LICENSES WILL HELP IDENTIFY YOUNGER DRIVERS A new look for Nevada Drivers Licenses will be unveiled today, April 20, 1998. Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa will be joined by representatives from the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, Nevada Highway Patrol and The Southland Corporation (7-Eleven) for press conferences in Reno and Las Vegas to introduce new licenses. Beginning in April, drivers under 18, and drivers between the age of 18 and 21, who are obtaining a new or duplicate license will have a different colored header bar across the license. Nevada drivers under 18 will have a light blue header bar across the top of their license with the words, "MINOR DRIVER UNDER 18" printed in yellow in the upper right hand corner. Nevada drivers between 18 and 20 will have a yellow header bar across the top of their license and the words, "MINOR DRIVER UNDER 21" in red print. "The primary purpose of this change in design is to eventually allow people involved in selling or monitoring age-restricted products and activities, such as tobacco, alcoholic beverages, or gaming to more easily identify those who are underage," Del Papa said. "The distinctive new licenses will also help law enforcement officers easily identify juvenile drivers during an enforcement stop." Joan Wilson, government affairs specialist for The Southland Corporation, who originated the idea for the color-coded system explained, "I was trying to find a way to simplify things to make it easier for clerks to do the job they were hired to do without being a policeman." The new designs are being phased in and are only required for young people obtaining new or duplicate licenses beginning April 15, 1998. Drivers under 21 who received their licenses before that date will keep their old, standard license. There will also be cases where drivers will outgrow the age indicated on the header bar of their license before the required time to renew. The ultimate determination of age is the birthdate on the license. A six dollar duplicate license fee will be charged to younger drivers who would like to exchange an existing license for an updated colored header bar license. The Southland Corporation (7-Eleven) and Philip Morris split the $12,000 cost necessary to make the change. Wilson is very pleased with the results of the cooperative effort. "This has been a successful combined effort between the government and the private sector, who are ultimately working for the same goal," Wilson said. "Checking the age identification of children and underage youth trying to buy tobacco or alcohol is an important responsibility," Del Papa said. "I applaud The Southland Corporation and Philip Morris for their efforts in helping to make it easier for those involved in the sale of tobacco and alcoholic beverages as well as the monitoring of gaming activities to check ID’s. Public education is important to assist in the transition period." ###
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