ILLINOIS, USA — Illinois residents will soon be allowed to carry digital versions of their driver's license without penalty after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law on Monday.
House Bill 4592, one of over 100 bills the governor recently signed into law, will give Illinois residents the option to have a "mobile Illinois Identification Card or mobile driver's license."
The new law doesn't spell the end to physical identification cards. The digital version of the ID card would be issued in addition to the physical card, not instead. The law allows agencies and businesses to choose whether they want to accept digital IDs but bars anyone from requiring a digital ID over a physical card.
Additionally, residents would still have to show their physical identification card to law enforcement, if the officer requests it. The law also gives officers immunity from any liability resulting in damage to a mobile device, except in the cases of willful and wanton misconduct, as well as barring law enforcement from searching an individual's phone without consent if they are provided digital identification.
"Provides that the display of a mobile identification card and driver's license shall not serve as consent or authorization for a law enforcement officer, or any other person, to search, view, or access any other data or application on the mobile device." the bill's text reads.
The bill originally passed the state senate and house on May 24. It was sent to Pritzker's desk on June 21.
The bill will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
