A bill in the Illinois House of Representatives proposes giving residents the option of having a digital driver’s license, which could bring the days of needing to have your license in your wallet to an end. The legislation, introduced by Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner, would allow drivers to legally present a digital version of their driver’s license when requested by law enforcement during a traffic stop or checkpoint.

Illinois could become the next U.S. state to offer digital driver’s licenses. As smartphones become more commonplace across the entire population, digital debit and credit card payment applications have gone from a convenient alternative to an actual replacement for some people. The growing normalcy for handheld technology in our everyday lives has now created a demand to digitize another card in our wallets, our driver’s license.

Illinois may become the next state to offer a digitized driver’s license. House Bill 1110, introduced by Representative Kam Buckner, aims to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to permit the use of a digitized driver’s license. This would enable Illinois residents to show a digitized license to law enforcement officers during traffic stops or checkpoints, without the risk of receiving a citation for not having a physical copy.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is looking for input on how best to create a unified standard for strongly verifiable and trustworthy IDs on mobile devices. At the same time, the state of New York says it will join those of its peers who have some version of a mobile driver’s license.

Over the last two decades, mobile devices have become a commodity technology with users of all economic backgrounds and ages across the globe. These devices have become convenient platforms for many uses, including ordering a ride, making payments, checking in to a flight, accessing the gym, storing concert tickets, etc.

First generation CAT units are designed to scan a traveler’s photo identification, confirm the traveler’s identity as well as their flight details. The new CAT units, referred to as CAT-2, have the same capabilities, but are also equipped with a camera that captures a real-time photo of the traveler.

More than 20,000 Utahns have now signed up for mobile licenses since the technology became available in 2021, about double the number prior to the announcement, according to GET Group, the company that Utah partners with on the app. Company officials add that there has been an average of 1,500 people who have downloaded the app per day over the past week.

Any state resident with a traditional driver’s license can download a signed version to their mobile device, according to KSL-TV. Participating travelers can choose to go wallet-free at TSA PreCheck lines at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), one of a few U.S. airports that accept mDLs.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Utah Driver License Division (DLD) and GET Group North America have announced that TSA will now accept Utah mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) via the GET Mobile app as a valid travel credential in TSA PreCheck lines at select airports around the country.

The Utah Department of Public Safety’s Driver License Division (DLD) is now enabling state residents to set up their own mobile driver’s license at home, marking what is essentially the official, broad launch of the digital ID system after a smaller-scale rollout began last year. The Utah mobile driver’s license program is powered by face biometrics specialist FaceTec, mDL innovator Scytales, and GET Group North America.