Connecticut DMV to launch identity verification program

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles recently announced that it will be implementing a new program to offer verified identity protection to people renewing licenses and identification cards. When the program goes live in October, customers will begin to be asked whether they wish to show original proof of identity documents such as a birth certificate or valid U.S. passport in order to establish a historical record of their identity with the agency, which can then also be used for federal identification purposes. The licenses or ID cards of people who agree to undergo the identity verification process will feature a gold star, and those of the customers who decline will receive a regular ID card stamped "not for federal identification." Although the program was formulated in response to identification-related national security standards that were put in place as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks, it will also offer citizens an additional layer of protection against identity theft, which 8.1 million Americans fell victim to last year, according to the Washington Post.