stevie_d_64 wrote:Somehow I knew I should have clarified this, but thats ok, everyone brought up a good point or two about this...
I don't run the tape over the magnetic data strip for that very reason...
But since I have never seen, anyone swipe a DL for any reason since they changed the design and purpose of the Texas DL, I am at a loss...
But just between you and I...I don't think it works anyway for some strange reason...
All the data they need is in print on the front of the license...IMO...
But I've been known to be a rebel without a clue, from time to time...
I am not advocating anything inappropriate, or illegal, in this revelation...Maybe I should run over the the DMV and see if it works or something...
Did you actually clarify? I'm still confused as to how they are taped together, and where.
The convenience store by my workplace is now requiring at swipe of a driver's license for the purchase of cigarettes. This struck me as odd, as the law only allows this for alcohol purchases, as far as I'm aware. this is reflected in the TABC code in section 109.61 Any other use of the DL stripe has to be LE-related. Maybe my knowledge is old... last I checked it was a few years ago.
According to the Attorney General, I still seem to be correct. Here is a statement by the Attorney General, found at this link:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinopen/opi ... adingID=36
Magnetic stripe information contained on driver's license may be used only by law enforcement and other government personnel acting in official capacities (Superceded by statute - Tex. Alco. Bev. Code Ann. § 109.61)
KD5NRH wrote:Bought a bottle of Testor's model paint at WalMart last week and they insisted on swiping my DL for it.
Using the data stripe for the purchase of paint seems clearly against the law.
The exception to this that I have found is for keeping record of the sale of substances which could be used in the manufacture of methamphetamines, which paint is not. I understand that it is the policy of Wal-Mart to ID for paint, but that does not supercede the law in regards to privacy of information. I'd ask for a manager and complain and figure out who to report them to. As the DL is issued by DPS, they're probably the ones to talk to.
Liberty wrote:You don't fly Southwest outa Hobby much do you Wink I don't think there is any information from the strip that isn't available from the front either.... now when they get around to putting the RFI tags in that could be different.
As far as swiping for luggage, that is probably done under the authority of the TSA, and legitimate.
There is actually one piece of information on there that is not on the front of the license. I looked this up once, and it contains a "security information" code. Most likely it is a special checksum hash or independently assigned number verifying the validity of the license against the DPS database. All of this information is kept unencrypted on the back of your card. Letting someone read that data allows them to store that information, opening the door to fraud. Once that data is available (via a compromise to the server where that info is stored, or internal fraud), anyone could write that data to a fake ID and pass themselves off as you. Since the security information is there, it acts as a verification of validity and could easily place you in criminal liability for something you did not do.
