House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

In the near future, I will be introducing legislation designed to give Pennsylvania’s nearly nine million licensed motorists the option of downloading a digitized version of a Pennsylvania driver’s license through a mobile application (app) that would be offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). My legislation is based on a bill currently making its way through the Louisiana House of Representatives. This legislation is comparable to insurance providers who are now providing online insurance cards easily downloadable in order to provide proof of coverage whenever and wherever a driver may be. I view this as added protection for someone who may have unknowingly misplaced their license. It also embraces the reality that fewer and fewer people are carrying the traditional wallets or purses, and instead are relying on digital methods of payment that can occur safely through the use of their phones. The app does not eliminate the driver’s responsibility to have a hard copy of the license, but allows for a modern method of showing proof. Under my legislation, PennDOT would develop an app that provides users with a copy (front and back) of their license. It would allow PennDOT to apply a reasonable fee for the download, renewal and updating of the license. I hope you will join me in helping to make Pennsylvania a more innovative state by offering an electronic driver’s license.
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Introduced as HB2424