Jeff O'Farrell and Tracy-Anne McPhee became the first Yukoners to get their hands on the new high-tech driver's licences this morning.

O'Farrell, the deputy minister of community services, and McPhee, the territory's information and privacy commissioner, were able to jump the queue as part of the launch for the new cards to demonstrate the application process. O'Farrell was filling in for Community Services Minister Archie Lang.

The new licences and general identification cards are designed to be more secure and to adhere to North American standards, officials noted.

"Yukoners, like other Canadians, are finding more and more uses for government-issued identification, so I'm pleased that all Yukoners may apply for either the new driver's licence or general identification card,” McPhee said.

Over the past year, her office and community services officials have worked on developing the card as a secure document.

Walter Brennan, the manager of the motor vehicles branch, explained the licences and identification are secure in two ways.

The first is in the requirement for applicants to provide two documents that show residency, such as a health card, utility bill, property tax statement and the like, as well as a government-issued photo ID that also includes a signature, date of birth and current legal name.

That will help ensure people aren't fraudulently using another's documents to obtain ID; though Brennan acknowledged there's always the potential for it.

The other security features will help make it extremely difficult to produce a fake ID. Holographic images, UV light features and a bar code on the back detailing the personal information on the front are among those many features.

"They're secure driver's licences,” O'Farrell said, noting the cards will be an asset for Yukoners when they travel Outside.

McPhee stressed that it is up to individuals to protect their information appearing on the card. As part of the education campaign, retailers are being advised of the limits about what information can be used from the cards.

In most situations, she said, the front will provide the information needed, such as a person's birth date, when they are purchasing cigarettes.

The bar code on the back of the card which provides the same information as the front can be scanned by police officers, she said.

The initiative to bring in the new cards has cost the government about $500,000, with individuals set to pay $50 for a five-year licence, $25 for a five-year general identification card and $15 to replace either.

For the next three days, motor vehicles branch officials are restricting applications to those seeking new licences or IDs or those up for renewal in November. On Thursday, it will be open to all, including those seeking replacements.

The new licences will be rolled out over the next two weeks in other communities, beginning with Dawson City and Watson Lake tomorrow.

Teslin and Mayo will come on-line Thursday with Haines Junction, Carcross, Carmacks and Faro set for next week.

Don Inverarity, the Liberal MLA for Porter Creek South, wasn't wasting any time waiting to get his new card.

He was the first in line at the motor vehicles branch when it opened its doors for the launch at 8:00 this morning.

Having to wait a half-hour before the counter was officially opened, Inverarity used the time to take in the launch and ensure he had all the right documents after he learned from community services spokeswoman Brenda Wale that his passport, current driver's licence and some other documents wouldn't suffice to prove his residency.

He eventually found a bank statement that showed where he lived that he planned to use when he applied.

In an interview while he waited for the kiosk to open, Inverarity said that after pushing for new licences for the past three years, he wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to see it come to fruition.

He soon learned he would have to make his way from the building to a tent set up outside.

In preparation for any large lineups, the government set up the tent with two staff to help screen applicants.

They were set to make sure applicants had the right documents in order and instruct them on which kiosk to go for the new licence or identification.

Four additional staff are working in the front part of the motor vehicles branch today to help deal with the new applications, bringing the total staff complement there up to 19.