Fingerprinting annoyance

[Paul S. Penrod]

On Mon, 13 May 1996, Senator Exon wrote:

> in connection with a character and fitness report i have been
> asked to supply a review board with a set of my fingerprints
> i have never been fingerprinted before
> i am not very keen on the idea now
> of course refusing will attract suspicion
> short of getting someone else to put their fingers in ink for
> me does anyone have a cute method by which to obscure my prints
> on those cute little cards without it being obvious?
> i can fill out and manipulate the card myself i just need a
> working method.
> is there no privacy advocate who can help me?
> 

First off, if you were born in the US, they have your feet and/or hand 
prints on record. Secondly, fingerprints are not an absolute proof 
positive means of identification. They are sufficiently unique enough 
that it satisfies the statistical error acceptability for many 
governmental agencies.

I wouldn't worry about it personally. There are more effective ways of 
getting around such things if you really need to. If you don't have any 
historical baggage, then don't make waves.

...Paul