Lauren McKinney
Staff Writer
The Wyoming state House of Representatives passed a bill Feb. 21 to allow Wyoming drivers to purchase a digital driver’s license. The bill has been received for introduction in the state Senate.
The bill was passed with 49 votes after its third reading in the House. It was introduced to the Senate Feb. 24. And was placed on General File yesterday.
There are varying opinions about the bill and what it means for Wyoming residents. Security is one large concern that residents have.
Most security threats can be addressed, said Ruben Gamboa, professor of Computer Science at the University of Wyoming. Digital driver’s licenses can have a level of security that is as good as trusting a paper copy.
Gamboa also said people have been abusing physical driver’s licenses for generations, and ID security is not a new issue.
“I use an IPhone. I have Apple Wallet, and in Wallet is my proof of insurance card. I’d love to have my license there as well,” said Gamboa.
The convenience of having a digital driver’s license seems to outweigh the risks for many people.
“I hardly ever carry my wallet around with me. I use my phone and my watch to pay for things all the time. It’s on my wrist, and that’s wonderful. The only reason I carry around my wallet is for my driver’s license,” said Everett Vetos, a Wyoming resident and student at the University of Wyoming.
Many students have a good outlook on this bill and are excited about the advancements that it could bring. However, other students are hesitant to trust the new technology that comes with the bill.
“Someone’s gonna hack that,” said Kate Nelson, student of the University of Wyoming and Wyoming resident, “because everyone’s gonna hack things. Look at the Tesla cars. They’re already hacking those. Why not hack a driver’s license. You know instead of getting a fake ID were just going to Skeezy Skeezerson and change your ID to say 21 on the app.”
There is also concern if the system with which the digital driver’s license will be provided will be user friendly.
“One thing I’ve found out about Wyoming is you go to all four corners of the state and there’s people who are very tech-savvy,” said Gamboa.
However, Riley Baker, UW student and Wyoming resident said she is concerned about being able to use the app efficiently and the app working in places without cell phone signal or wifi.
There are also concerns about the additional payment for the digital driver’s license. To acquire a digital driver’s license, an applicant is required to pay $10 for the physical license and an additional $10 for the digital copy.
“I’m not paying $10 for both. I’ll just buy the physical license,” said Andrew Kerr, UW student and Wyoming resident.
Despite there being concerns, the majority of those interviewed said they would still use a digital driver’s license. With the bill making its way through legislation, a digital driver’s license could be a reality for Wyoming residents.
“This is the wave of the fucking future. Embrace it,” said Vetos.
This bill, HB005, will allow Wyoming residents to use their digital license in place of a physical license. However, this does not allow residents to opt out of getting a physical one, for it is still the primary identification method. The bill does not cover using the digital ID for recreational reasons such as purchasing alcohol.
Residents can use the digital driver’s license for showing to law enforcement. The use of digital driver’s licenses will have to change law enforcement protocol for looking up licenses, though. Law enforcement will not be allowed to take custody of a person’s personal device, and the digital licence shall not be used as consent to search the device.
