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Governor approves electronic IDs, driver’s licenses
New Mexico Real ID driver’s license.
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New Mexicans can look forward to electronic IDs and driver’s licenses in the future.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 88 into law in late February, allowing the Taxation and Revenue Department, which includes the Motor Vehicle Division, to issue electronic credentials for driver’s licenses and identification cards.
There’s not a firm timeline yet on when the electronic licenses and IDs will be available.
Tax agency spokesperson Charlie Moore said the department has begun working on the programming to move the project forward. The agency has to enter into agreements with digital wallet providers before rolling the licenses out, he said.
The way the digital license works, Moore explained, is a smart phone or similar device shows a simplified version of the printed credential, and there’s more detailed data encrypted in the file that’s accessible with a reading device that has keys to unlock the data.
Moore said drivers won’t have to pay an additional costs to get the new digital licenses.
However, New Mexicans will still need to carry a physical license when driving.
Law enforcement needs to have a scanning device for digital licenses, according to the bill’s fiscal impact report. The tax agency noted in the report that as more states adopt digital IDs and law enforcement adopts more handheld scanner or reading devices, the digital license will have more expanded use.
Moore said a digital license could be used at some TSA checkpoints and certain businesses.
