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> |