British Columbia is developing a new high-tech driver’s license that could be used as a passport alternative to enter the United States by land and sea, officials said Monday.
A new pilot program will involve 500 volunteers who agree to share personal information with Canadian and U.S. authorities, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said.
The licenses are a response to U.S. security measures that require valid passports for land and water crossings. Beginning next month, Canadians will have to present proof of citizenship when entering.
Passports provide that but traditional driver’s licenses — which have been the key requirement for entry — do not.
The enhanced licenses will look similar to current ones but will be embedded with a radio frequency identification chip that can be scanned at border crossings.
The license can be used only at land and sea crossings, and passports will still be required to fly into the United States.
Campbell said that once an assessment is done on the pilot project, the new licenses could be rolled out to British Columbians as early as 2009.
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