The California Department of Motor Vehicles is now offering a digital driver’s license for the first 1.5 million people who get the CA DMV Wallet app.
According to the official DMV website, “The mDL is a digital driver’s license or identification card (DL/ID) on your smartphone. DMV is currently testing the mDL at select locations and airports as part of the mDL pilot.”
TSA Precheck at Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and San José Mineta International Airport are to accept the mobile drivers license (mDL).
Arizona, Colorado, Florida and 14 other states have adopted a digital-based identification system, according to the American Public University EDGE website. The DMV official website also shows that nationally, there are currently 25 airports who accept the mDL.
California Governor Gavin Newsom made an announcement about the possibility of the digital driver’s license in January when he shared his budget proposal.
The pilot program currently has limited their capacity to 1.5 million participants in September according to the official DMV website.
“This would benefit me because I am not one that carries a purse,” Linda Cuevas, cashier at San José State’s Dining Commons, said. “Having my ID in my pocket is not always safe, because when I pull my phone or other things out of my pocket my ID tends to fall out too.”
According to the California DMV website, your usage will not be tracked and no data will leave the application without consent.
The California DMV app requires a two-step verification that will be done in order to successfully access and log into your DMV account and driver’s license.
Forensic science junior Mary-Claire St.Omer said cybercrime and cyber security are growing concerns and having identifying information on a phone can be dangerous.
“I believe that there can and will be serious security issues with having such personal information on an app,” St.Omer said. “I do see how a digital driver’s license can be beneficial and helpful, however in this situation I feel like the cons outweigh the pros.”
According to the DMV’s website, the app and digital driver’s license will only show the information that can be found on a standard physical identification card.
The app will allegedly be functional without having to be connected to Wi-Fi.
The CA DMV Wallet application also has the TruAge capability that is used for age verification purchases. In order to purchase an age-restricted product, TruAge must be activated in your application because the mDL alone is not accepted at retail stores for proof of age.
Criminology junior Ben Smyers said he would only use the CA digital driver’s license once it’s integrated with Apple Wallet.
“I don’t think this will ever fully replace the physical card, because handing your unlocked phone to law enforcement, DMV clerk or anyone else that needs to verify who you are is not practical,” Smyers said.
The official TruAge website says that it's available to use in select convenience stores, small grocery stores and neighborhood markets across California.
DMV Spokesperson Anita Gore said instead of someone having to hand over their license that has their address, weight and height, the cashier will simply scan the QR code that comes with the age verification.
According to the DMV official website, Californians can expect to see TruAge in retail stores, grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, restaurants and concert venues.
California does not currently offer the ability to add your digital driver’s license to your eWallet, resulting in only being able to use the DMV wallet application.
The California DMV has said that there will be more available platforms in the near future.
California is not the only state experimenting with the usage of digital driver’s license. Arizona, Colorado, Florida and 14 other states have adopted a digital-based identification system, according to the American Public University EDGE website. The DMV official website also shows that nationally, there are currently 25 airports who accept the mDL.
