Digital driver’s licenses are one step closer to being filed in New Jerseyans’ virtual wallets under a bill the Legislature advanced Monday with overwhelming approval.
The proposal is one Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled during his final State of the State address in January. At the time, he called it “common sense” and said it would “make life easier for people we serve.”
But the bill — which now sits on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature — wouldn’t take effect for more than three years. It’s also likely the state would have to apply for a waiver for mobile versions under Real ID requirements, which began in May.
The state Motor Vehicle Commission would be able to charge a “reasonable” fee for issuing mobile driver’s licenses or non-driver identification cards.
Thirteen states already offer mobile driver’s licenses, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and neighboring states like New York and Delaware. Some states’ mobile licenses can be used at certain airports and federal agencies, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
The bill also states that if someone hands off their phone to show their ID, that doesn’t constitute consent to search their phone or access information that isn’t on their identification card. It also requires the commission to equip the digital IDs with certain features to ensure “security and integrity” of the documentation to protect people’s personal information.
The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators called mobile driver’s licenses the “future of licensing and proof of identity.” They’re a significant improvement over physical IDs, which can be lost, stolen, broken or damaged, outdated, and easily replicated for counterfeiting, the organization said.
A spokesman for the Motor Vehicle Commission did not respond to a request for comment.
The bill passed the Assembly with a vote of 75-3, with two abstentions. In the Senate, it passed 31-6. The no votes were all Republicans.
