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.