Measure Would Require ‘Smart’ Driver’s Licenses

Two Virginia congressmen unveiled a bill last week that would direct states to turn their driver’s licenses into computerized “smart” cards, which would be more difficult to forge.

Seeking to deter hijackers, criminals and underage drinkers from obtaining false identity cards, Democratic Rep. Jim Moran and Republican Rep. Tom Davis introduced a bill that would establish standard security features for the state-issued cards.

The measure would require states to include a computer chip containing a digitized biometric identifier--such as a thumbprint or a retina scan--that law enforcement officials could use to verify the identity of a holder of a driver’s license.