Nothing prehistoric about new dinosaur-embossed Alberta licence and ID cards

The Government of Alberta says it is the first jurisdiction in North America to integrate design and security to protect residents from ID theft and prevent fraud.

The provincial government has released a new design for driver’s licences and ID cards that aim to deter fraudsters from altering or replicating cards and, ultimately, defend Albertans from identity theft.

The new cards feature several different cutting-edge security features, including clear windows, laser engraving and 3D embossing.

Officials say that as well as providing enhanced security, the new cards are cheaper to produce, saving Albertans about $1M annually.

The driver’s licence will feature Castle Mountain and the Bow River in Banff National Park, while the ID cards will feature a wild rose, Alberta’s provincial flower.

Some of the other features include:

Alberta’s licences and ID cards were redesigned back in 2009 and there are no plans to replace the current ones as they will be phased out through the regular renewal process.

More information on the new cards can be found on the government’s website.