The AZ mDL Makes Licenses Unforgettable
I’ve done it, you’ve done it, we’ve all done it. In fact, weekly, one out of five Americans do it. Yes, we forget to bring our drivers license with us when we leave the house. The bold and brazen even drive without it. It happens. With Arizona’s mobile Driver License (mDL), the anxiety and shame around this common mistake is drastically diminished.
In 2021, Arizona was the first state to launch the mDL – mobile drivers license and depending upon the statistics, 900,000 or 1.8 million residents have taken advantage of this feature. Another first. Arizona is the only state to offer four methods for users to carry their mobile drivers license on their phones:
Apple Wallet
Google Wallet
Samsung Wallet
MiD Arizona Mobile Drivers License App
Rumor has it that Kevin Gates inspired the Arizona MVD to make mDLs extremely accessible. (unconfirmed)
The Perfect Present For The Absent Minded
Chipolo.net, a technology company dedicated to assisting the focused yet forgetful, conducted a study in 2020 and found that on average, people spend 5 minutes searching for their lost items, but sometimes it can take much longer, especially if it’s something as important as a wallet. In fact, more than 20% of people spend over 15 minutes searching for misplaced wallets and other essential items. If you are like me and do this on a daily basis, we are looking at 63 hours in a year or 2 and a half days spent looking for something in a given year. Thanks to the AZ mDL, I can say that I got at least a day back.
Forget Without Regret
Throughout the state of Arizona, citations for driving without a license, whether it’s forgetting to carry it or driving with an expired or suspended one, are relatively common. In cases where a driver simply forgets their license but has a valid one, they typically receive a citation with a fine of around $120. However, this is often dismissed in court if the driver provides proof of their valid license. With the mDL on one’s phone, it is one less thing to worry about.
Convenience With A Caveat
All of this convenience works wonders if you never forget your phone and you always charge your phone. Unfortunately, this is not the case. In fact, a Counterpoint Research study found that 72% of smartphone users experience low-battery anxiety when their phone’s battery is at 20% or lower. The study also found that 65% of smartphone users experience emotional discomfort due to battery drainage. If you are absent minded like I am, it would be wise to invest into the crop of portable phone battery chargers. Not only will you save yourself, but you will be everyone’s best friend at the airport.
Gadget lovers can find the latest innovations in portable charges on Wired.com
mDL Adoption Is Spreading Slowly
States are advancing mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) to make them more mainstream. Arizona, led by MVD Director Eric Jorgensen, has issued about 900,000 mDLs and is working to increase their usability. Jorgensen highlights the challenge: getting people to adopt mDLs when few places accept them, and getting businesses to accept them when few people have them. Arizona’s mDLs are now accepted at TSA checkpoints at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and are compatible with Apple, Google, Samsung, and the state’s own mobile ID app.
Don’t Forget The Bars
There is growing frustration around the limited acceptance of Arizona’s mobile IDs at bars, despite their use at places like airports and Total Wine. Many bartenders cite corporate policies or the lack of familiarity with verifying digital IDs as reasons for not accepting them. Some worry about the legal risks of serving minors with fake IDs, while others express hesitation because they haven’t been trained to spot virtual forgeries. Although mobile IDs are seen as secure, with features like certification buttons, their broader acceptance is expected to take time as more businesses adapt to the technology.
While full-fledged freedom from absent mindedness is not fully available, I do have the peace of mind knowing that as long as I remember my phone, I can run to the store, get lighter fluid, I won’t get burned if I forget my license.
