The Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee held a public hearing this week on proposed legislation that would lay the groundwork for the introduction of a digital driver’s license that can be stored on the holder’s smartphone.
The proposed legislation, Pennsylvania House Bill 1247, aims to amend the state’s vehicle and driver licensing laws. It introduces the concept of electronic driver’s licenses and identification cards, which would exist alongside traditional physical licenses.
The bill outlines how electronic versions can be issued, managed, and verified, including provisions for privacy and data integrity. It also describes the conditions under which these electronic credentials can be used and displayed, particularly in interactions with law enforcement and other official scenarios.
The proposed legislation mandates that any medical-related indicator included in an electronic product, such as an electronic driver’s license or identification card, shall only be accessible by law enforcement or emergency personnel during interactions with law enforcement or in response to an accident or emergency situation. Importantly, the information contained in a medical-related indicator is required to be kept confidential by law enforcement and emergency personnel.
Additionally, the legislation stipulates that individuals are not required to surrender their electronic device to law enforcement, ensuring that personal devices, which may contain a wide range of private information beyond the driver’s license or identification card, are protected. Moreover, when a licensee exhibits an electronic driver’s license upon demand by a police officer, the officer is only permitted to review the full profile of the product holder’s electronic license, safeguarding any additional personal information that may be on the device.
This week’s hearing on the legislation adds further momentum to the US’s digital driver’s license trend, coming soon after similar legislation was proposed in Illinois and Tennessee—though State Rep. Dan Miller (D-Allegheny) had first introduced the Pennsylvania bill back in May of 2023. And he has previously tried to put forward similar proposals, which were not approved.
“It just makes sense,” Miller told a local news outlet. “This is not a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when.’ I thought it would’ve been six years ago.”
Sources: FOX43, Pennsylvania General Assembly, LegiScan
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March 5, 2024 – by Alex Perala
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