CLPEX Chat Board

I am in need of some help from fellow examiners. My State agency collects biometric data from residents applying for a driver's license in the form of live scan capture of both index fingers and stores those in a database for use in cases of identity theft, deceased identification, etc. A State Senator has introduced a bill which would eliminate the collection of these fingerprints at the drivers license stations and cause the current stored data to be deleted. His basis is that this is a violation of privacy. What I am needing is simply to know what other States collect biometric data in similar circumstances as a part of their digital driver's license program and details as to who and how they are accessed by the licensing authority (In our case it is the Department of Public Safety/Highway Patrol) Thanks for all help!!

i cannot quote any case law off the top of my head. However, one might remind the good senator that driving is considered a privilege and not a right. There may be a right to privacy as determined by specific judicial rulings, but the phrase "right to privacy" does not exist in the Constitution. And IF there is an inherent "right to privacy," there is no inherent right to anonimity. Utilization of a driver's license granted by the state, then one must expect that privilege to come with some strings attached. The state has the right to protect itself from fraud and misuse of the licenses it issues. Other states are utilizing similar methods to prevent this fraud and misuse.

I live in a jurisdiction where some of the 9-11 highjackers obtained their licenses through fraudulent means, I have strong opinions on this matter as I am sure you can understand.

I'm with Bill 100% on this. Legitimate people have nothing to fear from giving a print for a license or cashing a check or similar situations and as a society we have too much to lose if we fail to gather this sort of information. That said, here in CO one is required to give a right index impression (along with a signature and photo---hmmmm, is it a violation then of my privacy to have a photo on my license???) with their license application and that is stored, rather poorly and frequently reversed, by the state. That print is available to law enforcement for any law enforcement purpose. Right now I have a case where the only prints/ID we have for two homicide suspects are from their originaly license applications. We use the prints most often to identify unattended death situations--purty sure the families are happy to know the person they are mourning and burying is really the person they think it is. But that might just be me.

Thanks, Bill and Sandra. I appreciate your comments and support. This Senator has vowed to reintroduce this bill every session that he is in office. The more information I have to pass on to our legislative liason and our Troopers Association lobbyist to fight this thing the better.
Anyone even with knowledge from personal experience of other States that take fingerprints at the time of obtaining a drivers license let me know please.

They say curiosity killed the cat. But I'm of the mind that satisfaction brought her back!!! Being the curious sort (in more ways than one!) I thought I'd conduct a quick 'net search. If you google: which states require fingerprints for drivers license, a pretty handy bunch of links come up. Some of which, with a small investment of your time, should get you much farther along in your search than posting here likely will. I'm also betting that varying the wording of the search will reveal other, equally helpful and often frivolous sites.

Hope that helps!

Perhaps this senator might benefit from speaking to a few victims of identity theft. In states that don’t require fingerprints like mine, it is too easy for people to get drivers licenses in more than one name. Personally, I think it would be a good idea if credit card companies began requiring a fingerprint and a photograph. We need to do what we can, using noninvasive methods, to protect ourselves.

Thanks for all your comments and ideas. I have some good numbers now on other states and case precedents to provide to our legislative liason