A delay in production for the new California driver licenses and identification cards has doubled the turnaround time to receive the new cards, an official said.

The new cards have more security features and must be perfect before being mailed to cardholders, causing a delay of six to eight weeks, DMV spokeswoman Jan Mendoza said.

"We're scrutinizing every single one so that they are 100 percent correct," Mendoza said.

The delay has caused a concern among motorists driving with expired licenses, as well as holiday travelers.

"With any new technologies, there are start-up growing pains, but hopefully we'll get them resolved soon," Mendoza said.

For Altadena resident Robert Grundy, 66, the delay has left him stranded at his home.

"There is a funeral today and I am unable to make it because I can't drive my car," he said about missing services for a college classmate.

Grundy's license expired Dec. 16. He received his renewal form in October. He mailed the form back immediately with a check that Grundy said the DMV cashed right away. Nearly eight weeks later he hasn't received his license in the mail.

"If they cashed my check they should have sent me some notice that my license is still good," Grundy said.

The problem lies with card manufacturing company, L-1 Identity Solutions, which has had to retool, buy new software and hire more employees, Mendoza said.

Californians waiting for their new cards will not be penalized for the delay in card receipt as long as the renewal was paid on time.

"As long as you've paid your fees, (law enforcement) will see that your license is valid and correct," Mendoza said.

Once the renewal has been processed by the DMV, the cardholder's record will be updated as quickly as the same day, the spokeswoman said.

But that wasn't the case for Grundy.

"They cashed my check on Oct. 26 and I got stopped by a sheriff's deputy and I was told my license was no longer good," Grundy said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy told him he couldn't drive with his old license. Grundy presented the deputy the receipt from his renewal, which the deputy said didn't suffice.

Grundy has driven for 40 years and said he doesn't have any outstanding tickets.

While expired driver licenses may not hold up during a traffic stop, the outdated identifications will be accepted at airports, a Transportation Security Administration official said.

"If they do have an expired form of identification, they can go through a secondary screening process at the checkpoint," TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said.

The secondary screening includes a pat down and bag inspection.

The new cards, first issued on Oct. 1, mark the first major revision in California driver licenses and identification since 2001.

New security features include a tactile signature and birth date, images visible under ultraviolet light, a 2-D bar code verifying information on the card front and laser perforation outline of the California brown bear.

Also, persons under 21 years old will have a vertical layout for their driver licenses or identification cards.

Californians are not required to get the new cards when their identification card or driver license expires.