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It is not designed to be handed to someone. It works like ApplePay and is designed to be presented to an identity reader. You unlock with FaceID and present to the reader then confirm the information that will be shared. It doesn’t actually show details on the screen unless you go to settings and tap on “driver license info”

It also not considered a valid drivers license for a traffic stop, for now you’d have to use your physical ID anyway.

I assume the reason for the slow adoption is that new hardware will be required to support it anywhere that wants to accept digital licenses. Same reason ApplePay took forever to be available in majority of locations.
Not sure why you added my comment to your post as I clearly state it's not a valid form of identification unless you present it at one of the 9 airports. I also know about the scanner that is used for reading and verifying your identity.. I'm just saying if you have to carry your physical license, there's really no reason to have the digital ID at this time
 
This is one of those things that I’m not sure I’d ever use. There will never be a time in my life where I won’t carry a driver’s license with me, and I’m not a big fan of handing over my phone to government officials. Some things just sound better than they really are.
I've had the Maryland one since it was introduced. There's really nothing I can do with it outside of going to the airport.

I think most people who are excited to get this will find very little use for it.
 
1: I’m not handing my phone to the cops.

2: You don’t HAVE to hand your phone to the cops, participation is optional. If you don’t want to hand your phone to the cops, carry your license.

3: Close thread.
In California, even if you have your license on your phone, law enforcement won't accept it. You have to still carry a physical license.
 
As for folks uncomfortable with showing your phone to someone, I don’t expect policy will be to hand over a device, just scan it. However, if you ever do get in that situation (I do occasionally for showing info for returns to cashiers or whatnot), I use Guided Access to restrict access to the thing showing. Triple click the power button and choose Guided Access or ask Siri to turn it on. https://support.apple.com/en-us/111795
That's useful info - thanks!
 
"but it will work with Japan's My Number Card eventually."

There has been no formal chatter about this. Since it has its standalone app. There is no reason to do this.
 
Hoping they bring this to Australia. Would love to remove some more apps from my device.
The Service NSW app is amazing. You can even use the app to confirm if a person's digital licence is authentic. All the states and territories have agreed to a nationwide standard which means 100% portability very soon, although I've never had any issues using my digital licence in VIC and SA.
 
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DO NOT USE THIS FEATURE. Never hand your phone to a cop, ever. This literally just came up in the news this week:

In my home state of NSW in Australia, the law was implemented in 2018 BEFORE digital licences were launched. You only need to show the QR code for law enforcement to scan. You don't need to hand over your phone - it's the law. It even covers instances of no battery and broken screens.


It seems that all these new wiz bang products are released in the US before the relevant laws are put into place.
 
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Just completed the extra verification steps with my passport.

Digital ID is approved and shows on iPhone and AW.

Good luck to those still trying!!
 
They're tried many times but conservatives/republicans wouldn't have it because they're afraid of "big brother"
Really? The federal government has an ID it’s called a passport.
In regards to drivers licensing, why would any state be willing to give up that revenue stream, conservative or not.
 
Not sure why you added my comment to your post as I clearly state it's not a valid form of identification unless you present it at one of the 9 airports. I also know about the scanner that is used for reading and verifying your identity.. I'm just saying if you have to carry your physical license, there's really no reason to have the digital ID at this time
I meant to reply to post you also replied too.
 
The major downside now is that every time your ID gets scanned, it's tracked by the government. Eg, you could show your ID to get into a bar, and only you and the bouncer would know. However, if it gets scanned, now the government knows where you go and how often.

It may be worse than that. If you hand your unlocked phone to a police officer to check your driver’s license, does that implicitly consent to a search? I could easily see the current regressive and activist US Supreme Court issuing a ruling that says because one could hand over a government-issued hard-copy ID to satisfy a police request for ID, giving them an open phone constitutes consent to search.
 
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I wouldn’t use this for a traffic stop, I would however use it to buy alcohol. And show proof of age.
 
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Ok, stupid question. What about police and traffic stops? You have your license on your iPhone and hand it over to the cops. Wouldn’t they have full access to your phone, pictures, etc?

I ask because I just tested with my iPhone. I double pressed the power button to bring up my wallet. It immediately performed a Face ID scan. I would then presumably scroll to my drivers license (NC doesn’t have it yet) and then hand it to the officer. They then take my phone and walk back to their vehicle.

However, once that first ID scan is performed, I can swipe from the bottom without another scan and have full access to my phone. That would seemingly be problematic.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.

You're right and I've noticed this too. They need to make it like the payment cards in Wallet where the scan only authorizes the next interaction with the card.

You can present the license for scanning without unlocking the phone via the electronic reader, but viewing the license information in human readable format requires the authentication, which yes does unlock the entire phone.

It doesn't matter at this point because police don't have to / can't legally accept it anyway. I don't want to test this but it might get you out of going to jail from a simple traffic stop if you didn't have your license on you, by proving that you do have a license, but you might still get the ticket for not having the physical card on you which is a separate law.

But having said that, it's an obvious oversight I was hoping would be fixed in 18.
 
This is one of those things that I’m not sure I’d ever use. There will never be a time in my life where I won’t carry a driver’s license with me, and I’m not a big fan of handing over my phone to government officials. Some things just sound better than they really are.
We have it here in Australia and have so for a long time writhing our state government app. You have no requirement to hand over your phone. Simply allow the police to view it. It also has a QR code I assume they scan to open in their system.

I haven’t carried a wallet with me in years.
 
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It’s pretty simple, I use my digital ID to zip through the airports that support. My home base supports it and better than inserting my physical ID in to scanner and go through airports.
The digital ID is not yet valid for driving, I still have my DL in wallet, and hand it over to the cop. Same with concert, they don’t accept digital id if you order a drink. These IDs will be more useful once the Cops and other places put NFC readers that can be used with simple tap.
 
I am glad more states are joining (at least talking about joining the program). I set mine up a year or so back and hoped to use it at Raegan Washington Airport but their system wasn't quite working and I ended up handing my license over. at BWI I experienced almost the same thing with their scanner "not working again"

The TSA agents don't seem to be bothered to get it working. but the more states and more airports that join the better chances of this finally working. Yes, you need to have your license/ID on you anyway. But I am sure the Apple execs and other business travelers that are constantly on their phone while traveling this means they just need to swipe the device rather than dig out their license/ID.

I'd assume Apple is trying to get at least half of the U.S. states on board before attempting to go outside the United States.

**and no, you do NOT hand your phone to a cop. worried about being tracked...if you have a phone, credit card, automobile, or just a face that can be scanned you are already being tracked.
 
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