Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 12:06:42 -0700 To: cypherpunks@toad.com From: Alan Olsen <alano@teleport.com> Subject: Re: Florida Drivers Permits and a Hello At 01:47 PM 8/29/95 -0500, you wrote:
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.
I was pointing out that it was possible. I was not trying to make the point that there was any *USE* for such a thing. (Evidently some ID cards now carry such prints. California does, if memory serves me correctly.) Just because something is silly does not mean it will not be tried by someone in law enforcement. In fact, there seems to be a corelation between silly acts and law enforcement... (Or at least those making the rules about law enforcement.) And if you think it cannot get any worse, Pete "I want to seal the borders" Wilson has announced he is running for president. We will be getting a large number of silly laws and pronouncements if the American people are stupid enough to elect him to high office.
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