Are Californians ready for yet another new version of the driver's license?
The last one — called "Real ID" — went over about as well as CNN+. As of April, less than half of the state's drivers had obtained one, even though Californians will need a Real ID or a passport to get on a plane or enter a federal building in a year. The tepid reaction may stem from the fact that these IDs offer no new benefits to drivers, just another time-consuming obligation.
Now the state's Department of Motor Vehicles is planning to test a version called a mobile driver's license or digital ID — an identity-verifying credential stored on your smartphone. And unlike Real ID, a mobile license could give you more control over your personal information, although critics say a poorly designed system would threaten your privacy.
