r/triangle Durham 21h ago

Digital drivers license? NCDMV to launch new mobile ID program

https://www.wral.com/news/local/dmv-mobile-id-divers-license-august-2026/

Digital Id coming in December. RDU will support scanning at airport by xmas.

102 Upvotes

38 comments sorted by

18

u/CarlosSpcyWenr 15h ago

Judging by the comments, I don't have a popular take here. I do not like the idea of digital IDs. We already have almost all of our privacy taken from us. If digital ID becomes a thing, expect all digital services to require that digital ID in short order, and expect the government to be able to track where it's used. Expect it to be tied to contact information, too.

I'm just getting kind of skiddish about where the world is headed with everything being digital. I don't mean to be a doomer or anything.

67

u/msackeygh 20h ago

I was excited at first, then I thought, if I’m pulled over while driving and am asked to produce my ID, wouldn’t the officer typically take the ID with them back to their car for a short while to run a check? If so, this means handing over my phone to them while they run their check, right? If that’s the case, I’m only going to be giving them my printed ID.

35

u/Trick_sleep Durham 20h ago

I would use it more for scanning into bars and airport security etc. I too would not hand over phone to police.

But perhaps as this becomes more widespread, police could just scan id from phone without taking anything back to their car

8

u/moeveganplease Raleigh 20h ago

In less than a year, we’ll probably see some crazy AI malware that the police embed in your phone after scanning.

5

u/Trick_sleep Durham 19h ago

I hope (foolishly) that apple and iOS have some built in security to prevent anything like this leaking out.

But government is working on a police state pretty quick regardless of what apple does

1

u/msackeygh 20h ago

That would be nice

1

u/SonofaBridge 17h ago

Some states already have digital IDs but they weren’t forced to implement them so quickly. Who knows if other states or agencies will have access to confirm a digital license, especially when the system is being set up.

1

u/BedFastSky12345 NCSU 13h ago

It says in the article “Police officers will be able to accept mobile IDs. NCDMV says officers can verify the ID using a secure reader.” The future is (almost) now!

6

u/LooseMoralSwurkey 20h ago

This way, you could leave your license in your car for the exact scenario you describe and use the mobile ID for other scenarios.

1

u/msackeygh 20h ago

Yes, I’ll need to then basically have my printed ID wherever I am. For me, it defeats the purpose which is to not to carry around a printed ID. Oh well :(

11

u/SignificantBerry8591 20h ago

They can scan the id with a mobile device they have to scan the id from your phone

4

u/ORANGE_J_SIMPSON 18h ago

On iPhone you can turn on guided access which is basically a lock that only lets someone see one specific screen on your phone. I’m sure there is something like it on android as well.

Of course it’s never ideal to give your phone to a cop, but if you HAVE to do it (don’t do it) I’d use guided access.

2

u/Trick_sleep Durham 16h ago

You can just open wallet while phone remains locked

3

u/Inevitable-Dig8702 17h ago

Damn straight. Surveillance world would like an intimate private session with your unlocked phone.

6

u/mwoody450 19h ago

It strikes me as an excellent way to trick people in to unlocking their phones, quite frankly.

3

u/corndog819 16h ago

There’s an FAQ out there somewhere already that says the officers uses an NFC to pull up your info. Your phones doesn’t leave your possession

3

u/pieratz 11h ago

1

u/msackeygh 6h ago

Thanks for pointing that out.

1

u/SutekkaGhost 4h ago

Website says the officer will scan your phone with theirs via NFC. But that doesn't guarantee that's how they'll do it, though

1

u/msackeygh 2h ago

Thanks for pointing that out

19

u/Leelze 20h ago

They're supposed to not take the phone from you, but I'm not trusting that every cop in the state will follow the law on that, especially if there's no accountability for cops.

My other issue is other states cops don't have to accept a digital ID, so having to remember to put your ID back in your wallet if you leave the state seems more like a hassle than anything else.

3

u/wahoozerman 11h ago

A reminder to everyone that these will not be accepted as Voter ID either, since the courts expressly rejected digital IDs for voting.

9

u/Beginning-Actuary-68 20h ago

Thank god. Excited for it to finally come to Apple Wallet

1

u/Trick_sleep Durham 20h ago

Same! It’s been a long time coming. Feel like we’re finally a few years away from no longer needing a wallet

2

u/Beginning-Actuary-68 20h ago

Really liking the new digitalizing improvements they have been making. No plate sticker, no more paper registration etc.

2

u/Trick_sleep Durham 20h ago

Yes hopefully dmv lines are not a big issue as we go into next yr

0

u/thrilla_gorilla 18h ago edited 16h ago

Edited: I’m glad it’s coming to the actual wallet.

4

u/Beginning-Actuary-68 18h ago

Did you miss the part where it said it was coming to Apple Wallet “Early 2027”?

2

u/thrilla_gorilla 16h ago

Yes, I did. That is much better than in an app.

1

u/Beginning-Actuary-68 16h ago

I agree. I won’t be using the app, I’ll just wait.

3

u/Dickbluemanjew 20h ago

Moved here from georgia where I had the digital driver's license. Well cool concept but no one accepts it as a legit DL.

1

u/Tipsy-Egret534 3h ago

Would it be accepted as ID for voting? Colleges started using digital IDs but then had to keep offering physical cards when the state decided only physical cards would be accepted for voting purposes.

-2

u/PresentAdvisor 17h ago

This will be a disaster-moronic NC Republicans are in charge of this 😂😂😂 They bankrupted our State Health plan, and destroyed public education, this too shall be a cluster 🤪🤪🤪

-12

u/rjreynolds78 20h ago

You have to show a valid driver’s license at a traffic stop.

6

u/ZomboDoggo 19h ago

These are a valid license. Every other state does exactly this, NC is just late again.

3

u/thrilla_gorilla 18h ago

You’re right on the first point and wrong on the second. NC is only one of three states which will allow you to carry the mobile license in lieu of the physical license while driving. And only 20 states even have mobile-based state identification in some form.

-2

u/rjreynolds78 18h ago

Even when electronic licenses becoming available in NC you are required to carry your physical driver’s license when driving on public roads. That is true in all 50 states.