(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/17/2024) Michigan residents are getting closer to being able to verify their age when buying alcohol and cigarettes through an app on their smartphone or tablet.

The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today took testimony on four bills designed to allow the Secretary of State to create a personal identification card online at a cost of no more than $4, according to Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie.

People would still need their physical driver's license if pulled over by law enforcement or to prove ID at the voting booth, but to prove a person's age, Michigan would join at least 13 other states, including Ohio, Iowa and Indiana in moving their ID to the iPhone and other smartphones. Another 15 states are working on something similar.

Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) said her office began kicking around this idea back in 2021 and is now spearheading 

SB 459,SB 460, SB 461 and SB 894 to make the idea happen. The bills are the product of numerous stakeholders to make sure proper security measures are in place, Anthony said.

She told the committee that the bills would put Michigan at the forefront of technological innovation.

Whether the Secretary of State would develop the technology in-house or hire a vendor is not part of the legislation and hasn't been decided, yet, Edevbie said.

The Michigan Petroleum Association (MPA) and Michigan Association of Convenience Stores (MACS) support the legislation. According to MPA Vice President Bob Cleary, an electronic ID would be more convenient for customers and enhance security.

“Fake IDs. It's a huge problem,” Cleary said. “Pressure from customers, different varieties of ID types. Time pressures with high customer volume, human error and even cultural and language barriers. These all highlight why improvements such as mobile identification could help streamline the process.”

John McNamara, of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, said the bills could also help with contact-less check-in and prevent people from trying to get a room with a fake ID.