Reversing a decade long policy implemented after the Texas House shot down the idea in 2003, the Texas Department of Public Safety earlier this year began taking all ten fingerprints of drivers when they apply for a license or a renewal. Previously they required only a thumbprint or an index finger if for some reason a thumbprint couldn't be taken.
But the Dallas News' Dave Lieber reported (June 7) that DPS license facilities now require drivers to give them all ten fingerprints, a policy change that took effect earlier this year with no publicity from the agency.
Long-time readers may recall that DPS sought similar authority back in 2003 and was smacked down by the Texas House. In 2004, Grits wrote a post titled "Why would they want all ten fingerprints?," and the question remains. Surely no more than a thumbprint would be required to prevent license fraud?
No, the real issue is they want to run fingerprints against state and national criminal databases. At first, DPS spokesman Tom Vinger told Lieber “As a point of clarification, fingerprint information collected at
driver’s license offices is not run against the national fingerprint
database. This is not authorized by the federal government or state
statute.” But soon he changed his tune. A month later, Lieber quoted "DPS spokesman Vinger say[ing] the system has already led to the capture of three individuals wanted for crimes."
At The Watchdog.org, Jon Cassidy assessed this development in a way that jibed with my own recollection of where this issue had been left: All ten fingerprints is overreach. Did they think no one would notice? This idea was shot down in the Texas House 111-26 back in 2003 and I doubt it'd fare any better now. The Lege should take the opportunity next spring to reverse this decision, if DPS doesn't, and order the agency to expunge all but a thumb or index fingerprints for each driver.
That took a lot of chutzpah.
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24 comments:
Ahh, and the republican police state marches on...
The quality of the thumbprint in these driver license records is so poor no sane fingerprint examiner would hang their credibility on them. 9 more shitty impressions won't change this.
The shitty impressions are only to convince a judge to sign a warrant, after which ten really good prints will be made. A clear 4th amendment violation by the thriving police state-
Since fingerprints have proven to be unreliable by the scientific community, this sounds more like a witch hunt.
I had to renew my license this week and was wondering why they wanted all of my prints. Of course they had no answer.
Grits, a lot of people (myself included) renew online. Have you found any information as to how this has or will affect that process?
I hope the American people are watching. This is what America will look like under another Texas President. Corrupted DA's, Law Enforcement, Corrections, and especially Parole. And those guys always preach less government and beware of big brother crap. In reality those running Texas today will not stop until you lives are under complete government control.
Just renewed my license yesterday and had no problem providing figerprints. Of course my figerprints are already on file due me being previously employed in law enforcement.
I do not mind giving up this small amout of liberty, if it assist law enforcemnt apprehending more criminals.
"I do not mind giving up this small amout of liberty, if it assist law enforcemnt apprehending more criminals."
There's a mighty big graveyard in Texas called "If".
Anyone who has to deal with any Government Agency to any extent already knows that we are at the mercy of bureaucrats making all the rules to suit their purposes, not a citizen's. The legislature has seen fit to allow these agencies to write what are the equivalent of laws instead of doing their jobs to write the laws.
They are just trying to clear cold cases.
Well here we go again the DPS has absolutely no right to demand all 10 fingerprints. They have no right to deny you a license if you refuse to give them 10 prints. They will look at you sternly and they will lie to you and tell you they have that right but if you simply calmly refuse to give them more than a thumbprint there is nothing they can do about it and all citizens need to know that. Personally I have no problem giving them all 10 prints, they already have about 200 sets of mine anyway and I am not planning on committing any crimes. I really dont give a rats ass if they waste some goobers time looking at my prints or dont I dont care. Nope not me dont care buzz off have a nice day
Paraphrasing Franklin, those who are willing to give up a little freedom for a little security deserve neither. I wonder what those who are willing to give up a little freedom because their give a shit meter is not functioning deserve?
Let me get this straight. You're okay with DPS printing 2 of your digits, but not all 10? WTF?
For those of you scientifically untrained, your DNA can be obtained from your fingerprint. Hence, the more fingerprints they have, the greater the chances of getting a full DNA profile of you.
And the greater the chances of clearing cold cases (truthfully, or by "discovering" your DNA at the scene of the crime).
DNA cannot be obtained from a fingerprint that's on file or from a fingerprint reader that doesn't collect cells for each individual. I would be willing to bet that the fingerprint readers at the DPS offices do not collect any cells for DNA sampling. I would also be very surprised if a fingerprint card collected enough uncontaminated material to run a test.
In any case, this is a vast overreach by DPS that serves absolutely no useful purpose.
9:58-
An image of a fingerprint, of course, does not yield DNA. But from those fingerprinting techniques whereby you physically touch a card, then YES, your DNA can be obtained.
DPS DL offices do not use print cards. The use electronic capturing...thus no DNA.
Might as well go the whole mile and open a massage parlor while they're at it. Can check my genitals and have my digits fondled while you wait. Would make for some interesting DL pictures.
I don't know man, I think I'm OK with this.
I mean, in the context of rape kits and DNA from felons in the system where the DNA collected has helped match up criminals with crimes, this is little different.
Rage
Can check my genitals and have my digits fondled while you wait
Is this an option? I'd pay a little extra for this.
Rage
I do not think the DPS has enough integrity for the citizens of Texas to believe in them as a legitimate law enforcement agency. First, the DPS wanted a thumbprint to prevent driver license fraud. They got their foot in the door and now want full fingerprints so some clerk somewhere, can run your "data" through a computer to see if you are a criminal. How or what is going to protect you if a mistake is made and there is a hit on your data? You will be explaining yourself from a jail cell plain and simple. Police in every state make lots of mistakes in reports and data entry. Now police in every state will have your data to corrupt. You can bet your bottom dollar, DNA is next, along with selling your private information for profit. Absolute power still corrupts absolutely. All this because some state drone sold the idea that driving was a "privilege". This is the same DPS agency that cavity searched females on the side of the road on camera. The DPS is just another revenue hungry agency of the state looking for their next chump.
The DPS does not DESERVE our trust or respect because the DPS does not respect Texas citizens.
I am really glad I got out of Texas when I did. It really has become a totalitarian police state.
Stopping crime? The last time I checked, the U.S. government was busy trafficking narcotics, laundering money, smuggling weapons, protecting and employing pedophiles, robbing people's bags at the airport, funding and arming terrorists world wide, staging false flag terror acts across America and the world, drone striking innocent people, flooding our borders with illegals.. and they want to fingerprint us to catch criminals?
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