The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a mobile driver license pilot study that will run for six months.
The pilot, which includes approximately 200 state employees and stakeholders, is designed to test user acceptance.
The test, among other things, will determine if the mobile license can work on an owner’s mobile device.
“Delaware is among the first states to test a mobile driver’s license, and we’re excited to help move this new technology forward,” said Gov. John Carney. “Across state government, we remain focused on innovation, to connecting Delawareans with new technology, and finding new, more efficient ways to deliver services to Delaware taxpayers. This program is a great demonstration of that effort.”
“This six-month pilot will help us see what mDLs look like in real-world scenarios and address any issues that arise as a result before we decide to fully adopt and implement this application for our more than 800,000 licensed drivers and ID card holders,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.
The pilot is being run by both the Delaware DMV and IDEMIA, the company that produces the state’s physical driver licenses and identification cards.
Features of the mDL that will be tested include:
- Enhanced privacy for age verification – no need to show a person’s address, license number, and birthdate. mDL will verify if the person is over 18 or 21 and display a photo.
- Law enforcement use during a traffic stop – the mDL will allow law enforcement officers to ping a driver’s smartphone to request their driver’s license information before walking to the vehicle.
- Business acceptance – understanding how businesses that require identification or age verification will be part of the pilot.
- Ease of Use.
- Secure access – the mDL is only unlocked and accessible by the mDL holder. The mDL is accessed through an app on the owner’s smartphone and is opened/unlocked by entering a user-created pin number or using facial recognition.
“We are pleased to be working with our long-standing partner, the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, on this innovative mobile driver’s license,” said Ed Casey, CEO, IDEMIA Identity & Security Business. “As the leader in driver’s license solutions in the United States, it is our responsibility to take the lead in bringing secure IDs to people’s smartphones. The variety of value-added features that protect and offer safety to all that interact with the digital ID is something we are excited about and pleased to be making a reality.”
