The Montana Highway Patrol announced that troopers will begin accepting Montana Mobile IDs, as well as other states’ mobile driver licenses, during routine traffic stops, offering motorists a secure, convenient alternative to traditional physical IDs.
The announcement follows last year’s launch of Montana Mobile IDs by the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). The digital IDs allow Montanans to carry a state-issued driver license or ID securely on iPhones, Apple Watches, and Android devices. While mobile IDs are now accepted, residents are not required to use them and can continue presenting a physical license for verification.
MHP Colonel Kurt Sager said the technology provides “a secure and convenient way for drivers to carry and present their identification” and that it will help streamline traffic stops for both troopers and the public.
Motorists who wish to use a mobile ID must notify the trooper—they cannot be requested directly by law enforcement. Users can present their ID via a QR code or by holding their device near the trooper’s mobile ID reader. The device itself does not need to be handed over. Users review the information requested by the trooper before consenting, authenticating with biometrics to share only the same information normally provided by a physical license.
The system uses the SmartMobile app, provided by Smart COP, Inc.—the same company that supplies MHP’s computer-aided dispatch system. The app securely transmits the ID information to MHP systems without storing it. Apple, Google, and the state do not have access to a user’s presentment history, which remains encrypted on the user’s device.
MVD Administrator Laurie Bakri emphasized the privacy and convenience of the new option, saying the partnership with MHP allows “Montana Mobile IDs and other states’ mobile IDs” to be accepted seamlessly and privately. She noted the agency’s commitment to providing modern, customer-friendly services while maintaining security.
Montanans interested in using a mobile ID can add their license to a digital wallet through MVD in a few steps. While mobile ID acceptance expands, MVD recommends carrying a physical license as a backup for verification.
This rollout makes MHP the first—and currently only—law enforcement agency in Montana to accept mobile IDs statewide, marking a significant step toward modernizing identification processes on the road.