The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced it will offer free replacement driver’s licenses beginning June 23 for residents whose licenses are not scanning correctly, as reported by Action News 5.
The scanning issue affects licenses issued in recent years, with some failing to be read at checkpoints or during traffic stops. DPS officials stated that the free replacements aim to address the problem and ensure drivers have functional identification.
The incident highlights the importance of barcode reliability in government-issued IDs. While many industries have transitioned to 2D barcodes and GS1 Digital Link standards, driver’s licenses often still use 1D barcodes that may degrade over time, underscoring the need for robust scanning infrastructure.