Document Number On Driver's License California 2 Forms Of Identification
Driver's License California Age
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This post about the so-called Document Discriminatoron driver’s licenses is somewhat off-topic for this blog. However, I find this tidbit of information so interesting that I feel compelled to write about it.

Document Number On Driver's License California 2 Forms Of Identification

I first presented this information in a Quora answer that I wrote last month. Please see What does the DD on a Michigan driver’s license mean?

DD = Document Discriminator

Getting your license is supposed to be a breeze but it can get difficult if you forget to bring the right documents! So we’ve made a list of all the documents you need to bring to the California DMV! You will need to provide proof of your Social Security Number; the following are acceptable documents: Social Security Card; Military ID Card. DD is “Document Discriminator,” which uniquely identifies a particular driver license or ID card. This is specified in the DL/ID Card Design Standard published by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). In the state of California, you can only obtain a hardship license, also known as a restricted license, when your drivers license suspension is the result of driving under the influence or lack of car insurance.

DD is an abbreviation for Document Discriminator. A number of states started adding this piece of information to their driver’s licenses several years ago.

The DD is a security code that identifies where and when the license was issued. It, thus, uniquely identifies each card for a given individual. Accordingly, it serves to thwart people who wish to tamper with, counterfeit or duplicate a government document.

Document Number On Drivers License California

Please note that the document discriminator does not include the driver’s license number.

The DD has its genesis in the 2005 federal Real ID Act. Page 29 of a September 2006 report by the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators provides the following explanation. (AAMVA represents U.S. states and Canadian provinces.)

The Act requires States to incorporate “physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes.”

Driver’s License / ID Card Standard

As a result of Real ID, AAMVA prepared, and revised over time, a driver’s license / ID card standard. That standard describes the document discriminator as follows:

Number must uniquely identify a particular document issued to that customer from others that may have been issued in the past. This number may serve multiple purposes of document discrimination, audit information number, and/or inventory control.

Dana H. Shultz, Attorney at Law +1 510-547-0545 dana [at] danashultz [dot] com
This blog does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact a lawyer directly.

Tags
DD, Document Discriminator, Driver's license, Real ID Act

Non-personal information contained in motor vehicle and driver license records such as vehicular crash records, driving violations and driver status information are considered public information.

Click to see full answer

Driver's License California Age

Keeping this in consideration, is a driver's license number public information?

Driver's license information is public record, as is license plate information. Your name, driver's license number, and more are available to anyone who requests it from the DMV. Your license plate number can also be used to look up who the car is registered to, at what address the car is registered, and more.

Similarly, how can I look up someone's driver's license? To lookup or find out the status of your driver's license, you can either contact your local DMV office, or you can obtain a copy of your driver record online. NOTE: Some, but not all, state DMV offices offer a free copy of your driver record.

Consequently, can you lookup your driver's license number?

Typically, your driver's license number is relatively easy to find. It should be prominently located on the front of your card. However, if you've lost your driver's license, you may need to know your number to order a replacement. Fortunately, you may be able to find your license number among other records.

What can someone do with license number?

Ca Driver's License Renewal

No, they cannot open a credit card or mortgage account but they can write your driver's license number on a check, give your license number (without the actual license) to a police officer at a traffic stop, or doctor/manufacture a license with your number to pass off to those who require ID (bars, employers, police,

Document Number On Drivers License California