Photo by Chan Walrus from Pexels

When I am not on the radio, I wait tables at a restaurant. And recently, a couple at a table wanted to order a couple of beers with their meal, which is a common request. The couple looked pretty young, so like any good waitress, I asked the two to see their driver’s licenses. And the guy picked up his iPhone and showed me a digital image of his license. It was clear and easy to read. I quickly found his birthday.

“Isn’t it so convenient?” he said with a smile.

This was the first time, I had ever seen anyone utilize the app although it has been available in Louisiana since July of 2018. The app is called LA Wallet. Louisiana is the first state to offer the option of having a digital license. Once you download it for free, you will have to pay an activation fee of $5.99 to access your actual license. Once you pay the fee, you will get an image of your driver license that is a legal form of identification. The digital license will have the same lifespan as the physical license. And if something happens to the phone, users can log on to a website that will give the option of unlinking the smartphone. And now, through new developments, the digital license can be used to buy alcohol and tobacco.

The days of looking through a wallet or purse for the elusive driver’s license are behind us.

Shreveport Times – Digital Driver’s License

Shreveport Times – New Rule Digital Driver’s License

WGNO – Louisiana First In Nation

(Photo Credit:  Delta Media Corporation)