South Dakota Rolls Out Updated Driver's Licenses

Driver's licenses in South Dakota are getting a makeover.

The state Department of Public Safety rolled out the new cards Thursday (September 3rd). The new cards feature advanced security technology to help prevent fraud and identity theft, including updated printing methods and embedded design elements that make the credentials more secure and harder to replicate. The design also includes a modernized layout to improve readability and usability for both customers and law enforcement.

New South Dakota Driver's License — South Dakota Department of Public Safety

Driver License Exam Stations across South Dakota will begin issuing the new design throughout the month of September, with rollout dates varying by site as each office transitions to the updated system.

Residents will receive the new-style driver’s licenses and ID cards during renewal or when applying for new credentials. Existing licenses will remain valid until their expiration date. No immediate action is required from current cardholders.

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30 Ways You Might Have Already Broken the Law Today

Most of us try the best we can to be law-abiding citizens, but did you know that you may have been breaking the law without even realizing it?

BestLifeOnline has a list of 30 of the most common transgressions. How many have you been guilty of over the years?

Out of 30, I am guilty of 19. And no I won't tell you which ones.

Gallery Credit: Jeff Harkness/B1027.com

What Did South Dakota's License Plate Look Like the Year You Were Born?

The first number on a South Dakota license plate is the county that the car is registered. For example, Pennington county where Rapid City is has a '2' starting its plates. In Sioux Falls you have either a '1' or a '44' depending on your relationship to 57th street.

When established in 1956 (and revised in 1987) the first nine counties were ordered by population. Starting with 10 they are in alphabetical order through Ziebach, with Oglala Lakota County (65) and Todd (67) rounding out the list.

Today the top 10 plate numbers and populations don't correlate anymore. 1 and 2 are still 1 and 2, but Lincoln (44) is now 3rd in population. Beadle is 4 but it's now 11th in population. See the list by population here.

On January 1, 2023, South Dakota started issuing a new license plate design for license plates.

So, let's take a look back at what South Dakota license plates looked like over the last 100 years.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns