New York State began issuing enhanced driver's licenses (EDL) embedded with RFID on Sept. 16. Following Washington, New York has become the second state to offer an electronic identification card that citizens can show at U.S. borders to identify themselves.
Aside from being a driver's license, the Department of Motor Vehicles says EDL is an approved travel identification document for land and sea border crossings between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Air travelers will still need to produce a passport to travel between countries.
Authorities say they will only store an identification number on the chip, no personal information. If they choose, residents can still get a standard driver's license. Those who want the new EDL will need to pay $30 above the standard $50 licensing fee.
