
New York has now become the second state in
the country to offer
RFID-embedded
driver's licenses. Following Washington State's lead last year, the
radio-frequency identification (aka RFID) licenses will be offered at a $30
premium over the standard driver's license. The benefits of the RFID license
include their ability to do double-duty as a driver's license and a U.S.
passport for those who frequently enter New York from Canada, Mexico or the
Caribbean (of course, you will still need a "real" passport to enter the state
from other international destinations). Authorities say that only an ID number,
no personal info, is stored on the chip. Regardless, as some embedded chips may
be read from a distance -- and not necessarily a direct line of site --
authorities in New York will still offer standard licenses for those on the
paranoid side... or they can run out and purchase an RFID-blocking wallet.
Thanks for the tip, Yash!