Applications being accepted for Enhanced Driver's Licences
 

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Everyone in British Columbia now has the option to apply for an Enhanced Driver's Licence (EDL), as the cards are in the final stages of approval by the U.S. government. The EDL can get you into the United States by land or water but you still need your passport for air travel.

B.C. Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations Joan MacIntyre says a privacy impact assessment has been done on the document following privacy concerns. "The province is confident that this EDL cardholder data will be protected. The B.C. EDL will incorporate the latest security features to prevent identity theft, fraud."

The enhanced licence will cost you $35 and they are voluntary. The government says B.C. residents can now book an appointment with ICBC to apply, with appointments starting May 1st.

Ontario and Manitoba are also introducing an enhanced driver's licence, but both Saskatchewan and New Brunswick stopped their similar plans last month, saying it's too expensive. Saskatchewan also cited changing American regulations as a reason to stop the project.

More information on the application process is available at the ICBC website

http://www.icbc.com/licensing/edl.asp

What exactly is the "enhancement"?

that it can be used in place of a passport...
if only it can be used as the octopus card next year too then it'd be wicked.

Voluntary?! They signed me up for that automatically. I didn't even know we had a choice between the old one and the new one..

I got my class 5 last month, and they sent me the newer card.. Charged me $70 + $50 (roadtest fee). $70 was because they said my driver's license was about to expire in under 6 months.

I like the new card, because it seems more durable, but did I just lose a lot of privacy by getting this card? (Ie. travels to the US may be monitored?)

This one is different than the new card. The new card is a new graphic but this card has extra security that can provide information to foreign computers like the US DHS ones.

fuck that shit, i am keeping my old license until they pry it from my hands, or when i renew it.

so if im too lazy to renew my passport, this might be my way out and just upgrade my driver license card than i can still travel to US by land? that sounds like a pretty good deal

looks better than that gay killer whale, i guess thats an "enhancement" as well

The whale is BCID only.

I wouldn't be surprised if it lets the WHP collect fines through ICBC as well and then ICBC has another excuse to charge you DPP for tickets in the U.S.

qft... i like the old one better...

I was one of the testers of the EDL, so they're offering me the free upgrade to EDL after the testing phase is done as well...

Yes.

I think you're getting confused with the new design and the enhanced license.

The new design is mandatory... everyone who gets a new license will have the new design.

The enhanced license is an option. It has the RFID chip built into it.

The enhanced license will have the same new design as the regular license.

ahh crap. i gotta renew my DL next year.

lol, it's only a piece of ID. I dun care how it looks as long as it can get me where i wanna go.

wtf they charge $70 because it was going to expire within 6 months?

cool

Yeah. It was a pricey day. But sure beats getting tickets for no N!

WTF these are soooo damn ugly

i rather keep my current EDL with the cdn flag

Yeah, only problem is the test EDL will only be valid until July 1st for crossing the border. If you apply to renew your EDL by end of August, they'll give you the new one for free... otherwise you'll have to pay the $35 like everyone else.

I think I'll go renew it in the middle of June, so that I'll have the new one by July 1st.

I checked out ICBC's website and can't find any information on whether you need a passport already in order to get the EDL. If you do, why waste money getting the EDL when you already have a passport?

new border rules take affect june 1,

booked appointment in may so i should be ready for the june 1 deadline.

at least the new ones take max 2 weeks to make. the test edl were 4-6 weeks

Yeah keeping my old license X2

same here same here..old one looks much better!!

Pretty sure you don't need a passport. That would be counter intuitive.

You didn't get the letter, or did you not read it clearly?

New border rules take effect June 1st, but they specifically said our test EDLs would be valid until July 1st.