Lawmakers in North Dakota have introduced legislation that proposes enhanced drivers' licenses which feature the RFID contactless technology and biometric data storage needed to cross the Canadian border.If the law is approved, North Dakotans could obtain the new identification for a fee of $45, meaning they'd no longer need passports to enter Canada.The cards also feature a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) or barcode that Customs and Border Protection officers can read electronically if RFID isn't available. The top 39 land ports of entry, which process more than 95 percent of land border crossings, are equipped with RFID technology."I believe as a border state, it is crucial for social and economic reasons to have easy access to our neighbor country, Canada," Senator Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, one of the sponsors of the bill, told Government Technology. "I also believe terrorists have disrupted our ease of travel and with technology, we can regain what we have lost. It is important that we not let illegal behavior control our environment."The move would put North Dakota on a short list of states offering enhanced drivers' licenses. Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington are some of the others.Currently, four Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec) are issuing EDLs to Canadian citizens.

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