Would you be interested in applying for a permit for your recreational vehicle? Thanks to an agreement between Santa Cruz County and a Southern California app developer, you can now do that through an app on your phone, with the transaction secured by the blockchain.
Earlier this year, the county board of supervisors approved using mobile “digital wallets’’ that allow residents to interact with various government services using their phones. Supervisors also greenlit a partnership with HUMBL, a San Diego-based tech company. That approval came a year after the supervisors initially accepted a proposal from HUMBL to develop the digital wallet program at no cost to the county.
The county’s digital wallet comes as more municipalities look for ways to make services more accessible, digitize records, and better serve constituents without always requiring them to visit government offices in person. In September 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that allows county governments to issue vital records for birth, marriage, and death certificates via verifiable credentials. These can then be held in digital wallets and secured by blockchain technology.
Essentially, a digital wallet lets you store funds and make transactions on your phone, serving as an alternative to cash or cards; it can also be used to store things like tickets or, in this case, permits. HUMBL executives say they believe Santa Cruz County is the first central county in the U.S. to launch a digital wallet.
The county already had an app that allowed residents to do things such as register to vote, report potholes, and look up restaurant inspections. The upgraded app, called MySCCounty+ and available in Android and Apple app stores, adds the ability to purchase and store permits.
HUMBL uses blockchain technology, an unchangeable, decentralized digital ledger that enables verification and tracking of data among separate parties. Proponents of the technology say it brings increased trust, transparency, and efficiency to systems, making it easier for residents to interact with government services online.
To allay concerns around data privacy, the agreement with HUMBL requires the company to follow a comprehensive data security plan developed in collaboration with Santa Cruz County’s Information Services Department. The county said the app developer doesn’t have access to residents’ financial information.
For now, the technology can be used only to buy RV parking permits, which allow RV owners to park their vehicles on county roads. But county spokesperson Jason Hoppin said the government expects to roll out several more features in the coming months. Other possibilities include adding the ability to buy building permits, register bicycles, and reserve spots at county parks, though he said there’s no set time for adding more services.
“We want to explore using systems where the permit or credential can be applied for and delivered remotely,” he said.