Re: Florida Drivers Permits and a Hello

>What is the capacity of the mag strips. Do they carry much more than some
>ID code for computer reference? It seems unlikely that there is enough
>storage
>for a thumbprint. Some vitals perhaps, but again it would most likely simply
>be a speedier way of referencing the card holder's supposed True Name. (After
>all they'd have to be checking driving record information as well.) Still
>decrypting the cards would be amusing, just to aggravate those who become to
>used to the convienience. 'Oh.. sorry Governor Wilson... my but you look
>different up close'.

They would not have to include an entire thumbprint.  The actual code used
to verify fingerprints is not very large.  All that would be needed is
enough information to ID into the "official" records and enough checksum
type information to prevent alteration/counterfitting.  Using magnetic media
for this is a bit foolish as it can be changed/destroyed with the stroke of
a magnet.  I will not say by what means I would think should suit as a
better encoding scheme because: 1) They are not using it and 2) I do not
want to give them any ideas.

|            Visualize whirled keys!              | alano@teleport.com   |
|"The moral PGP Diffie taught Zimmerman unites    | Disclaimer:          |
|all mankind free in one-key-stenography-privacy!"| Ignore the man       |
|   -- PGP 2.6.2 key available on request --      |  behind the keyboard.|
|         http://www.teleport.com/~alano          |       <fnord>        |

Alan Olsen writes
>They would not have to include an entire thumbprint.  The actual code used
>to verify fingerprints is not very large.  All that would be needed is
>enough information to ID into the "official" records and enough checksum
>type information to prevent alteration/counterfitting.  Using magnetic media
>for this is a bit foolish as it can be changed/destroyed with the stroke of
>a magnet.  I will not say by what means I would think should suit as a
>better encoding scheme because: 1) They are not using it and 2) I do not
>want to give them any ideas.

What possible value could the LEAs get by having your thumbprint digitally
encoded on your driver's license?  It's not like the average cop-on-the-beat
is qualified to lift a fingerprint and compare it.  Even if he was, how
does it benefit that the fingerprint is on the license?

This seems silly.

>What possible value could the LEAs get by having your thumbprint digitally
>encoded on your driver's license?  It's not like the average cop-on-the-beat
>is qualified to lift a fingerprint and compare it.  Even if he was, how
>does it benefit that the fingerprint is on the license?

Here it is possible to walk into a suitably equipped police station, put your
fingertips on a sensor pad and a few seconds, if records exist, have the appear
on the computer screen. Extrapolating this it isnt a big step for a patrol
car, already equipped with a packet radio link to HQ and a data terminal,
scan in your fingerprint and check it. If the system was offline they could
easily take your rpint and compare it to that on your license. It's just a
little more proof that the license is linked to you.

Mark
mark@lochard.com.au
The above opinions are rumoured to be mine.