DMV confirms auto bureau mistake

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Cheektowaga man recently received his new enhanced driver's license, but he was shocked to see someone else's photo on the license.

How could that happen? That's a question News 4 is Asking 4 You.

We brought you Gerard Mazurowski's enhanced driver's license dilema Tuesday night on News 4.

Mazurowski said, "I saw the picture and the signature, and it's like wow, someone else."

The enhanced license is supposed to make border crossings from Canada and Mexico more secure.

The problem for Gerard is the face on this license isn't his. It's someone else's.

Mazurowski said, "And if I had gone over the border with this, how long would they have tied me up?"

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Ken Brown said, "We believe a photo receipt from a previous customer was mistaken with this application."

According to the state, Mazurowski applied for his license on March 4th at an Erie County Auto Bureau office on George Urban Boulevard.

Where does the information go?

Brown said, "It would have been transmitted to Albany in some kind of electronic format."

Mazurowski says he got the enhanced driver's license because he travels to Canada often during the summer months and will need it when the government requires an enhanced license or passport for land entry from Canada or Mexico starting in June.

Who made the mistake?

Brown said, "Our transactions are completed by DMV employees in the field, and in this case, there seems to be the potential for human error."

Mazurski didn't have a new picture taken for the license. To some, his photo may look similar to the mistaken picture on his license.

Why not require a new picture?

Brown said, "That would be something that is not required by the state or federal law to have an updated photo on an individual's record."

Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul tells News 4 she takes full responsibility for the error and apologizes.

The State DMV spokesman says the person who appears on Mazurowski's license renewed his license on the same day at the same office.

Mazurowski's new license is in the mail.