The Transportation Security Administration continues to get more tech savvy. The agency announced last month that it was adding Hawaii as the 11th state from which it will accept digital identification in lieu of physical ID cards at properly-equipped checkpoints.
“We are pleased to have partnered with the Hawaii Department of Transportation to make the digital ID a reality in the Aloha State. This is another way of integrating technology into the aviation security process at no additional cost to the passenger,” TSA Federal Security Director for Hawaii Nanea Vasta said in a statement.
Travelers with ID cards from these 11 states can add their info to their Apple Wallet for use at many checkpoints around the country.
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Utah
Select airports in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Puerto Rico are fitted with the equipment to accept digital IDs.
The units used with digital ID cards capture a photo of the traveler to compare to their papers. The TSA said it does not store biometric data after the comparison is completed, but travelers can still opt out of the facial matching process.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].