Florida Digital Driver’s Licenses – Could this be a good thing for us?
Yesterday, Governor DeSantis signed HB 1313 into law. This bill brings Florida up to date with modern technology by establishing a “Digital proof of driver license“. The Digital proof of driver license is an electronic credential viewable on an electronic credentialing system. In other words, instead of having to show a plastic card, you will likely be able to show an image or display a barcode or QR code from a smartphone.
It makes sense… we have e-ticketing at airlines and concerts, we have mobile payment options at many retailers. Both make processing more efficient and mitigate fraud.
The first thing that comes to mind though, is how this will impact the branding on our driver’s license? Currently, those required to register have a prominent statute or the words “sexual predator” right there on the face of the ID. They claim that the brand is to help law enforcement quickly identify that the person is on the registry. The reality is, how often are we stopped by police, as opposed to having to show our license to buy a drink at a bar or cash a paycheck? Besides, law enforcement has access to the FCIC/NCIC system that would flag us anyhow, and generally people don’t stop to show their ID before sexually assaulting someone, so what’s the point?
If the digital license/ID shows only relevant information, this could be a good thing. Why does the bartender need to know if you’re an organ donor? Why does the bank teller need to know if you’re a safe driver? And why does the cashier at Walmart need to know you are a sex offender?
The bill (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1313/BillText/er/PDF) doesn’t get into what does and what does not get displayed on the digital drivers licenses, so we’ll have to wait and see. This can either be a good thing in the sense that we can now show ID to store clerks and bank tellers without having to shame ourselves, or we’ll just keep displaying our scarlet letters. We’ll wait and see.
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Just wondering why an article about virtual DL would so quickly dissolve into wondering how the new system will affect sex offender registrants and who will or will not see their status. To boot, about 75% of the comments are lamenting the same. Wth? Are we now coddling sex offenders?? “Oh no, someone might find out I fondled an 8-year-old three years ago.” Why yes, that’s called a CONSEQUENCE, when truth hits the light of day. I’m sick of people trying to lighten or normalize pedophilia. Further, this may be a concern for a small minority of DL holders, but why focus on THIS as opposed to data privacy concerns, what other digital citizenship requirements may follow, etc.
Please take your sick fantasies about fondling 8-year-olds elsewhere. You are in the wrong forum sicko.
Dear #Facts:
No one here is trying to normalize or condone criminal acts. What I find fascinating is that you’re supporting privacy and digital citizenship, which is what this is about. If I’m following your logic, it’s only a matter of time before none of your information is private. People forced to register find that much of their private information is public. People here are for privacy. I would think that you would be standing with registrants since it feels like we both want the same thing. I would love to have an honest conversation with you, and answer any questions that you may have.
@ #Facts, I’m not concerned about rational people being fully aware of my past offense. I just don’t want that data to keep me from being able to get a job or from finding a decent place to live. I don’t want that data to threaten me with felony arrest, should I neglect to report a temporary address, an Internet identifier, or a vehicle that I just rented. I don’t want that data haunting me in that way for the rest of my life. The registry is much, much more about punishing me than informing the public.
#fact sounds like sicko that hasn’t been caught. How about people off registry from dumb cops going stings on adult sites and put people in jail to justify their numbers. You sound like ya big talker talking big words behind ya screen. Who have no clue of thing. Plus look up the words before using It because pedophile is not a word used just because on registry. So back jerk off to sesame street sicko and get educated.
How does this comply with the REAL ID act which states must comply with for their residents when traveling is scheduled where no other ID is available to be shown at TSA, etc or have an alternate method to prove they are who they say they are, e.g. passport? I realize this is out of scope for this forum’s topic on DL monikers, but in thinking about it, I wonder if the digital DL will not have a marker but the person will carry another marker to complement the digital DL?
Convince of having digital copy of you license seems logical in this era, however what information would be on their not related to driving. Personally it sounds good but I don’t trust the Florida government. I could see Florida Sheriffs have their press conference with digital copies of licenses of people forced to register plastered on tv.
Brandon
This “All digital” World is not good for our elderly population. I have several elderly neighbors who can barely operate a flip phone, no less trying to figure out a smart phone. There at least needs to be options for those who otherwise cannot do such things.
I once got pulled over and tried to show the officer my digital proof of insurance and he wanted to see a real hard copy. Said anyone can fake stuff online. Luckily I still had a printed copy of my car insurance in glove box. Of course this was back when they first started doing that but guess he was slow to adapt as well.
I heard that you can even wave a card in front of some gas pumps and start pumping. That is all well and good until you get hacked. I can see the hackers now stealing our drivers license info, stored online just waiting for the easy pickings.
I’ve had the statute # on my card for years. Not once had anyone react strange to it. So don’t see the benefit.
But possibly “Sexual Predators” (mislabeled as many are not actual sexual predators) will get a tiny bit more privacy for themselves and their families.
China already does this. And that makes me concerned. We know that China has been adept at getting its population to sacrifice privacy in favor of convenience.
It’s unclear to me what sort of privacy safeguards are built into this law. Just because Gov. DeSantis banned vaccine passports, does not necessarily mean that he cares about your privacy. And we know that Florida sheriffs— reliable supporters of the Governor— often pride themselves on their ability to use the law to surveil registrants.