Georgia House passes legislation OK'ing digital driver's licenses

February 20th, 2024

A digital version of your Georgia driver's license can now be added to your Apple or Google Wallet. (Georgia Department of Driver Services)

Updated on 02/21/24 at 2:59 p.m.

The Georgia House of Representatives passed legislation that would allow residents to use a digital driver’s license on their smartphone in place of their physical license. The chamber passed House Bill 1001 Wednesday on a 168-1 vote.

Republican State Rep. Clay Pirkle of Ashburn says with about 300,000 Georgia driver’s licenses downloaded into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, it’s time to make clear that a digital license is enough.

During a recent legislative hearing on HB 1001, Pirkle pointed out that officers may accept a digital driver’s license.

“We have gone part way to say that law enforcement may consider that you have a digital driver’s license and that fulfills this requirement,” said Pirkle. “All my bill says is takes the ambiguity out and says have a copy or this.”

A screenshot of a Georgia driver’s license would not count.

Also, a driver handing their phone to a law enforcement officer is not consent to look at anything else on the phone.

Mike Mitchell with the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association is still concerned about that.

“Just the fact of being accused of it, even though you haven’t necessarily done that and … just the spotlight that law enforcement is under right now, this is just an additional liability in our opinion,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell also raised concerns about officers being accused of damaging someone’s phone, something Pirkle says he is addressing in an updated version of his bill.

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association says it is taking a neutral position on the bill, but is concerned about officer safety issues.

The bill know goes to the Georgia Senate.