Soon you may be able to carry a digital driver's license in Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS - Make room on your smartphone because you may be downloading a new app soon: A digital version of your driver’s license.

Tuesday, the Louisiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 481 allowing the Office of Motor Vehicles to issue drivers licenses on smartphones.

Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner, Karen St. Germain, said the app could be used during times when you might not have your driver's license with you.

“The application will be used for a traffic stop, insurance stops," St. Germain said. "We all tend to forget some things, but for some reason, we never forget our smartphones."

New Orleans resident Lena Henkelmann said she thinks it would be great.

“It would be immediately available," Henkelmann said. "You always have your phone, but you don’t always have your wallet."

Residents would still have to go through the same process as getting a regular ID and the digital license would also be accepted by officers during a traffic stop.

The digital copy, however, would not be accepted when buying things like beer, cigarettes or lottery tickets.

Louisiana has 2.9 million drivers, but they’re not all convinced about this digital revolution.

Matt Shaw said it doesn't seem any easier than the current system.

“I mean it seems convenient, but I don’t know if it's any more convenient than carrying around a little piece of plastic,” Shaw said.

Others said they were concerned about possible security risks.

Mary Beth Moore said what if you phone gets stolen?

“If your driver’s license is on this app, and anyone has this information, anyone has your driver’s license number, your home address, like anything they could ever want,” Moore said.

House Bill 481 was approved in both the house and the senate and now makes its way to the governor's desk.