State unveils Enhanced Driver License

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) unveiled its new Enhanced Driver License (EDL) on September 16, a move that is expected to expedite U.S. border crossings and give the New York economy a much-needed economic boost.
Developed in the wake of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a federal mandate requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document indicating citizenship and identity upon entering the U.S., the $80 wallet-sized EDL features a few cosmetic differences from a traditional license - the word ‘Enhanced’ is displayed alongside an American flag on the front of the document - but is notable for the technology embedded within it; the Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID) inside an EDL thwarts counterfeiting and speeds up data retrieval at U.S. borders. The tag is unique to the cardholder and does not contain any personally identifiable characteristics.
While the traditional New York driver’s license is still offered, all license classes, including commercial and motorcycle, are available in the EDL format, which Governor Paterson is touting as a “major step forward” and a “convenience for all New Yorkers who travel in North America.”
The document, available in only a handful of states across the country, can be used instead of a passport at land and sea border exchanges between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The DMV expects the EDL to specifically benefit the $400 billion U.S.-Canada merchandise trade and the 468,000 New York state jobs supported by it.
Individuals can apply for an EDL at a DMV office, where they must provide their Social Security card, proofs of identity, citizenship and residency. For more information, New Yorkers can visit www.nysdmv.com.