Police, dispensaries react to executive order allowing digital IDs at more places

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- KRDO reached out to local law enforcement agencies and marijuana dispensaries to see how they feel about the use of digital IDs, following an executive order Governor Jared Polis signed last month allowing establishments to accept them.

Restaurants, bars and marijuana dispensaries can now choose to accept digital IDs through the new MyColorado app.

Jim Parco, owner of Mesa Organics in Pueblo, says his store has already started accepting digital IDs, but he hasn't had too many come through the door.

"Not a lot of people have heard about it, but then again, not a lot of us read executive orders everyday. So we anticipate that this will start to evolve and, a year from now, we'll probably start seeing a lot more of this," he said.

Management at Emerald Fields in Manitou Springs and other local dispensaries told me they plan to accept digital IDs eventually, they just need to get the scanners, and train employees.

This doesn't mean you can walk around wallet-less just yet, even if you also pay for things electronically.

Law enforcement agencies across Colorado can still require a physical copy of your driver's license for identification in any situation, so you should still bring your hard copy around for now.

However, Governor Polis has made it clear the goal is to eventually eliminate the need to carry around a wallet.

"We are rapidly moving to support the use of mobile digital identity solutions that allow any of us to verify our identity and conduct business without the need to carry a plastic identification card,” he said.

We asked Pueblo police to see how they feel about the government's goal to eventually make it universally accepted.

Sergeant Franklyn Ortega told us, as long as they can verify its legit, they're fine with it.

"We like technology. I mean in our department we've had body cameras, we have a bunch of other technology that we've embraced," Ortega explained.

In contrast to privately owned establishments, Colorado government agencies -- other than law enforcement -- don't have a choice. They have until December 1 to start accepting the digital IDs, per government mandate.

You can sign up for the myColorado app by downloading it in the Apple or Google store, photographing your existing Colorado driver's license or ID, and filling out some personal information.

In addition to the Colorado Digital ID, myColorado allows you to do the following:

• Renew your driver's license
• Store personal and payment information
• Receive notifications about state news
• Search state services to find online government resources in one place
• Store vehicle registration and auto insurance information in the 'Wallet'