Digital driver’s licenses may be the wave of the future in Iowa, though there are issues being raised by it.
An app for individual driver’s licenses in Iowa is currently being developed, according to the Dayton Daily News. When the app is used by Iowa residents, it will show a picture similar to the physical form of the license. It will be released for testing next year and is thought to be released to the public in 2016.
The Des Moines Register reported that this app would come from the Iowa Department of Transportation. It would include a bar code that could be scanned and was connected to the agency’s databases. Testing of the app will occur with agency employees and others working for the state.
Issues are being raised, however. The Des Moines Register said that phones using the app would have to be taken by a police officer to their vehicle, where police scanners are usually kept. It would also prevent individuals from recording the situation with the officer or calling a lawyer if needed. Dead batteries and cracked screens could also make the situations more difficult. Physical licenses will still be available.