Scanning Your Drivers License for Smokes

[gwhughes]

So I stopped by a Hot Spot gas station for the lunch of champions (Mountain Dew and a Snickers bar) and grabbed a pack of cigarettes, because I'm evil and I smoke every now and then. The chick asked to see my license, I showed it to her in my wallet, she insisted I pull it out and hand it to her and proceeded to scan the magnetic strip on the back in the register....wouldn't scan, so she typed my DL# in the register and rang me up.

Now I'm no conspiracy nut, but it was apparent to me that if she couldn't have punched in the number, or I refused to give her the DL I wouldn't have gotten my smokes. I didn't wig out or anything, just gave her a befuzzled look, paid for my stuff and left. And yeah, I know they've been doing it for years, but the smoke Nazi's and paranoia over health care costs have stirred up some wonder with me.

My question, why in the hell is it necessary to identify me personally rather than just verify my age, conveniently printed on my DL?

[DRS]

Make sure the identity you are using is not reported stolen or a fake

[MrShotShot]

So I stopped by a Hot Spot gas station for the lunch of champions, Mountain Dew and a Snickers bar) and grabbed a pack of cigarettes, because I'm evil and I smoke every now and then. The chick asked to see my license, I showed it to her in my wallet, she insisted I pull it out and hand it to her and proceeded to scan the magnetic strip on the back in the register....wouldn't scan, so she typed my DL# in the register and rang me up.

Now I'm no conspiracy nut, but it was apparent to me that if she couldn't have punched in the number, or I refused to give her the DL I wouldn't have gotten my smokes. I didn't wig out or anything, just gave her a befuzzled look, paid for my stuff and left. And yeah, I know they've been doing it for years, but the smoke Nazi's and paranoia over health care costs have stirred up some wonder with me.

My question, why in the hell is it necessary to identify me personally rather than just verify my age, conveniently printed on my DL?

Since I don't know which State you live in, I can only assume it was a store policy in case they ever get questioned for selling underage folks cigarettes. It will be very easy for them to run a report showing a scanned of-age license for every pack purchased.

I had to do something similar in New York State just last week to buy some "good" Sudafed - you know, the kind with the meth still in it.

[gwhughes]

South Carolina is the state, mrshot.

DRS, I kinda get that, but then again I'm 33 full beard well over 18 looking. What would lead them to suspect a fake?

[CaptPops]

I saw a cigarette sign in Florida a few weeks ago that said 'we card everyone under 30'. Do you look 29?

[jimjames418]

South Carolina is the state, mrshot.

DRS, I kinda get that, but then again I'm 33 full beard well over 18 looking. What would lead them to suspect a fake?
Here in Michigan we have a new license look for those under 21.

Image from the DMV web site. 90 degrees from the normal license lay out.

ETA: Sorry bout that. Unable to upload image. :sad:

[LouC]

So I stopped by a Hot Spot gas station for the lunch of champions (Mountain Dew and a Snickers bar) and grabbed a pack of cigarettes, because I'm evil and I smoke every now and then. The chick asked to see my license, I showed it to her in my wallet, she insisted I pull it out and hand it to her and proceeded to scan the magnetic strip on the back in the register....wouldn't scan, so she typed my DL# in the register and rang me up.

Now I'm no conspiracy nut, but it was apparent to me that if she couldn't have punched in the number, or I refused to give her the DL I wouldn't have gotten my smokes. I didn't wig out or anything, just gave her a befuzzled look, paid for my stuff and left. And yeah, I know they've been doing it for years, but the smoke Nazi's and paranoia over health care costs have stirred up some wonder with me.

My question, why in the hell is it necessary to identify me personally rather than just verify my age, conveniently printed on my DL?


They only do this to people who look (or smell) like they hang out in vans down by the river. :whistle:

You are now entered into the database as a filthy smoker.

When universal health care is instituted next year you will be put on the limit service, don't bother to resuscitate, left to die in the ER waiting room before you sever ee a doctor list.

Despite the fact the President is a hard core nicotine addict.

Go figure.

[Hoobeedoo Bejesus]

They only do this to people who look (or smell) like they hang out in vans down by the river. :whistle:

You are now entered into the database as a filthy smoker.

When universal health care is instituted next year you will be put on the limit service, don't bother to resuscitate, left to die in the ER waiting room before you sever ee a doctor list.

Despite the fact the President is a hard core nicotine addict.

Go figure.

Hard core?

Somehow I doubt he has a dip in his mouth and smokes at the same time.

[LouC]

Hard core?

Somehow I doubt he has a dip in his mouth and smokes at the same time.

I would bet he patches and puffs.

There are more ways to hardcore than being a dip.

Trust me on this.

[gwhughes]

I saw a cigarette sign in Florida a few weeks ago that said 'we card everyone under 30'. Do you look 29?

Ive been told I have a baby face, but a full beard covers that up. Besides, the ID has my age and picture on it. I have no problem getting ID'd at all, just the scan thing kinda flips me out.

[gwhughes]

Hard core?

Somehow I doubt he has a dip in his mouth and smokes at the same time.

I first read this and thought it said "clip in his mouth," bringing up a whole new hardcore habit:)

[jimjames418]

I first read this and thought it said "clip in his mouth," bringing up a whole new hardcore habit:)
My wife has been drawing old age social security for years, but she still gets id'd when she buys beer for me. I have a hard time getting her to buy my beer because of that. :doh:

[gwhughes]

They only do this to people who look (or smell) like they hang out in vans down by the river. :whistle:

You are now entered into the database as a filthy smoker.

When universal health care is instituted next year you will be put on the limit service, don't bother to resuscitate, left to die in the ER waiting room before you sever ee a doctor list.

Despite the fact the President is a hard core nicotine addict.

Go figure.

S'all good, last year I pulled the old croker sack out of the river to get some cheese for my sardine sandwich (special occasion/birthday) and was snakebit. Long story short, leg turned black and fell off!

But, luckily, I live downstream from the nuke-plant and it grew back. So I'm like **** Obamacare!;)

[LouC]

...But, luckily, I live downstream from the nuke-plant and it grew back. So I'm like **** Obamacare!;)

:))

And you are your own nuke power source so you don't need Obama alternative energy and you probably glow in the dark so you don't need Bush CFL's.

Right?

[gwhughes]

I'll take a Busch Light....

[LouC]

I'll take a Busch Light....

Dang a cold one sounds good.

I almost regret I gave up drinking.

[jungulator]

My wife has been drawing old age social security for years, but she still gets id'd when she buys beer for me. I have a hard time getting her to buy my beer because of that. :doh:

I find it funny that I get carded a ton more for smokes, but hardly ever get carded for alcohol.

[johnrocks]

Just goes to show either ignorance or Statism gone awry or both,imho.

[LouC]

I couldn't find what I was looking for but I was wanting to know if there is any use of the data in a commercial fashion when your DL is scanned?

Does that only validate age or does it dump personal purchasing info into a vendor database?

[CaptPops]

I couldn't find what I was looking for but I was wanting to know if there is any use of the data in a commercial fashion when your DL is scanned?

Does that only validate age or does it dump personal purchasing info into a vendor database?

The magnetic strip on the back only contains the information that is typed on the front of the license. Your secrets are secure...

[TinCan]

The magnetic strip on the back only contains the information that is typed on the front of the license. Your secrets are secure...

Yep, they put all your personal data together with what you just purchased.

[Poisonshady313]

I couldn't find what I was looking for but I was wanting to know if there is any use of the data in a commercial fashion when your DL is scanned?

Does that only validate age or does it dump personal purchasing info into a vendor database?

I used to work in a Deli/Convenience store... and I've seen the ID scanned.... in the Lotto register.

All it does is confirm that it's an authentic ID, and tells you the birthdate.

No personal purchasing info is collected.

[wayoverthehill]

South Carolina is the state, mrshot.

DRS, I kinda get that, but then again I'm 33 full beard well over 18 looking. What would lead them to suspect a fake?
The Mountain Dew & Snickers lunch?

(Going into "mother" mode here - You should eat something nutritious.
Like broccoli.
:)) )

[gwhughes]

Good catch:))

[Talk2Bill]

that is weird.... i have seen the scan them at night clubs to but never at a store.

But one chicken wing place used to ask to see my DL when I used a Credit Card and they would write it on the receipt... and when i signed it I would ALWAYS rip that part off and say "you do not need my number." after about 5 times i was banned for life.

[gwhughes]

I used to work in a Deli/Convenience store... and I've seen the ID scanned.... in the Lotto register.

All it does is confirm that it's an authentic ID, and tells you the birthdate.

No personal purchasing info is collected.

Okay, but how do you know the DL# is not transmitted, along with the purchase, over the internets into a database.....a month later you're getting travel brochures to Vegas because of your obvious gambling problem?

[Talk2Bill]

Okay, but how do you know the DL# is not transmitted, along with the purchase, over the internets into a database.....a month later you're getting travel brochures to Vegas because of your obvious gambling problem?

or stored and sold to be loaded on a blank card

[jimjames418]

The Mountain Dew & Snickers lunch?

(Going into "mother" mode here - You should eat something nutritious.
Like broccoli.
:)) )
Back in the day for me it was a moon pie and an RC cola. Best lunch going. ;)

[Poisonshady313]

Okay, but how do you know the DL# is not transmitted, along with the purchase, over the internets into a database.....a month later you're getting travel brochures to Vegas because of your obvious gambling problem?

If you're talking about other places... I don't know.

If you're talking about the place I worked at... it was scanned in the lotto machine. There was no purchase for anything to be transmitted.

[gwhughes]

Uh, what about the lotto ticket?

[MrShotShot]

The Mountain Dew & Snickers lunch?

(Going into "mother" mode here - You should eat something nutritious.
Like broccoli.
:)) )

Now that I think about it, perhaps your lunch choice is why they are scanning your ID. Be prepared to receive a letter from the FDA questioning your less-than-healthy decision cc'd to your health insurance company of course so they can raise your rates.

[angelicmadrigal]

South Carolina is the state, mrshot.

DRS, I kinda get that, but then again I'm 33 full beard well over 18 looking. What would lead them to suspect a fake?

Note he said fake or stolen.

[gwhughes]

Then when did the cashier at the quickie mart complete law enforcement training? And when did I become a suspect in the stolen ID ring that plagues my state?

[ValricoKate]

Ive been told I have a baby face, but a full beard covers that up. Besides, the ID has my age and picture on it. I have no problem getting ID'd at all, just the scan thing kinda flips me out.

paranoid answer #1- they are cross referencing your health insurance policy ... if you claimed you are a non-smoker your policy will be canceled and your job will be terminated. This will put you under government control where your life force will be sucked out through your DTV conversion box.

paranoid answer #2- they are going to implement a kind of meth addict policy ...you have to sign for the smokes ...if you buy more than your share you will be placed under surveillance to see if you are black market selling cigarettes to fund Hezbollah.

non paranoid answer - the numskull behind the counter couldn't do the math to figure out if you were old enough someone showed her this neat trick to play it off.

semi paranoid answer - they are grabbing your address to send you mass market mailings crafted especially for the smokers.

[ValricoKate]

Back in the day for me it was a moon pie and an RC cola. Best lunch going. ;)

mmmmmm ...moon pie & RC haven't had that combo since I lived in Columbus GA.

(How you doin Jim?)

[ValricoKate]

:))

I did a quick search ...http://www.tobacco.org/news/259981.html

seems this young woman may be scanning your license to get a free pack for herself.

You get the junk mail ... she gets the smokes. Maybe not so much a numskull afterall.

[ValricoKate]

The magnetic strip on the back only contains the information that is typed on the front of the license. Your secrets are secure...

old site don't know if the info is out of date.

http://www.we-swipe.us/research.html

Is this Legal?

Driver's license swiping is a relatively new phenomenon and has yet to be challenged in court.

There is, however, a privacy law called the Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 (DPPA) that could be used to contest driver's license swiping. Congress passed DPPA in 1994 after the murder of actress Rebecca Shaeffer. Her assailant had gotten her address from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The public was outraged over the fact that state DMVs were not only releasing their database information (driver's license records), but also making major profits by selling this information. New York, for example, earned $17 million in one year selling drivers' records, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

DPPA put an end to this, well almost. DPPA requires that all states protect the privacy of personal information contained in an individual's motor vehicle record, but this privacy act (like most privacy acts) is extremely weakened by a number of exceptions. And here are some of the exceptions: an individual's driver's license information may be obtained from the department of motor vehicles for legitimate government agency functions, for Motor vehicle market research and surveys, for use by licensed private investigators, and for legitimate business needs in transactions initiated by the individual to verify accuracy of personal information.

Businesses who swipe will most likely will say they are protected by this last clause: that swiping is a legitimate business need to verify age and validate a driver's license. But is creating a database from the swiped information for future use and profit a necessity to verify the accuracy of personal information?

We'd say no.

[ValricoKate]

also from the same site:
What Information is Encoded on Drivers' Licenses?

We don't exactly know since there are over 200 state-issued drivers' licenses currently in circulation and not a lot of available documentation.

We have developed our own list based on SWIPE Toolkit usage. As more people use our Toolkit Decode Barcode feature, the more comprehensive and up-to-date this list becomes.

Data that currently is stored on some states drivers' licenses:
Name
Address
Second Address
Date of Birth
Height
Weight
Sex
Eye Color
Hair Color
Social Security Number
Organ Donor Info
Medical Indicators
Alias Name, Address, Date of Birth or Social Security Number
Electronic Image of Your Signature
Your Electronic Photo Image (KY)
Digital Fingerprints (DC, GA, HI)
Facial Recognition Template (TN)

I know in Florida they specifically removed SSN from drivers licenses (I never gave it to them to begin w/) I would call your DMV and ask what info this woman just scanned into her meter.

you might want to keep an eye on your credit report too. Maybe she is getting more than free smokes for the info she scanned.

<shrugs> But I run on the extra super paranoid cautious side when it comes to my SSN.

[snagswolf]

My wife has been drawing old age social security for years, but she still gets id'd when she buys beer for me. I have a hard time getting her to buy my beer because of that. :doh:
Most women love to be carded. A few years ago my wife was asked for ID when we were entering a casino in Niagara Falls. Was the highlight of the trip for her. She still talks about it.

[chip]

Our Target scans drivers licenses too. Cant just show em.

[Ex_Spy_Guy]

So I stopped by a Hot Spot gas station for the lunch of champions (Mountain Dew and a Snickers bar) and grabbed a pack of cigarettes, because I'm evil and I smoke every now and then. The chick asked to see my license, I showed it to her in my wallet, she insisted I pull it out and hand it to her and proceeded to scan the magnetic strip on the back in the register....wouldn't scan, so she typed my DL# in the register and rang me up.

Now I'm no conspiracy nut, but it was apparent to me that if she couldn't have punched in the number, or I refused to give her the DL I wouldn't have gotten my smokes. I didn't wig out or anything, just gave her a befuzzled look, paid for my stuff and left. And yeah, I know they've been doing it for years, but the smoke Nazi's and paranoia over health care costs have stirred up some wonder with me.

My question, why in the hell is it necessary to identify me personally rather than just verify my age, conveniently printed on my DL?

someone wrote a program that allows a POS terminal to read the BD off a Dl from the BC on the back....this way the retard selling you cigarettes doesnt have to count on his fingers to see if you are old enough.

some people use it, some dont...the kid at the 7-11 scans them, but his manager does not.

[CaptC]

I saw a cigarette sign in Florida a few weeks ago that said 'we card everyone under 30'. Do you look 29?
In a Wal-Mart near where I live, I was buying 2 cartons of cigs, and the cashier asked to see my I.D. (I've been told I look good for 45 despite the gray beard and salt & pepper hair - Harry S. Truman was pres when I came into being). I joked with the young lady and told her I had been smoking longer than she'd been alive. She didn't believe me, until she saw my license. She said, "Oh my God! You're older than my father!" I just smiled. :D

[Alaric]

This really boils down to just one thing: Companies that build card scanners have found a new market.

They now build driver's license scanners and market them to local regulation authorities as a way to regulate cigarette and alcohol sales. Fast talking salesmen convince doughhead city council members, county commissioners, and state legislators that this is a good idea and who then create another layer of bureaucracy and pass laws requiring the retailer to purchase the scanner. Meanwhile, the administration of the program is funded for the fiscal year without any thought to future expenses.

Just one more example of how government grows.

[gwhughes]

Then let THEM pay for my next DL renewal.

[gwhughes]

Oh wait, THEM is we, ain't dat about a bitch:)

[Apatriot]

My question, why in the hell is it necessary to identify me personally rather than just verify my age, conveniently printed on my DL?

Verify that it's not a fake ID.

[wayoverthehill]

Back in the day for me it was a moon pie and an RC cola. Best lunch going. ;)Just the thought of that combo makes my teeth hurt!

[wayoverthehill]

Our Target scans drivers licenses too. Cant just show em.Holy cats! I've never had that happen to me. What Target is that?

Oh wait - is that only if you buy cigarettes? I don't smoke.

Never mind - LOL.

[jimjames418]

Just the thought of that combo makes my teeth hurt!
Remember when we would get the 2 oz bag of salted peanuts and put them in the RC bottle. I can still taste that just thinking about it. It was good. :)

[CID_0687]

So I stopped by a Hot Spot gas station for the lunch of champions (Mountain Dew and a Snickers bar) and grabbed a pack of cigarettes, because I'm evil and I smoke every now and then. The chick asked to see my license, I showed it to her in my wallet, she insisted I pull it out and hand it to her and proceeded to scan the magnetic strip on the back in the register....wouldn't scan, so she typed my DL# in the register and rang me up.

Now I'm no conspiracy nut, but it was apparent to me that if she couldn't have punched in the number, or I refused to give her the DL I wouldn't have gotten my smokes. I didn't wig out or anything, just gave her a befuzzled look, paid for my stuff and left. And yeah, I know they've been doing it for years, but the smoke Nazi's and paranoia over health care costs have stirred up some wonder with me.

My question, why in the hell is it necessary to identify me personally rather than just verify my age, conveniently printed on my DL?
Mark of the Beast!!!!

Burn the card burn it I say!!

[59Flash]

My license (Florida) was issued in 1995, no scan strip on it. I just keep putting stickers on the back when I renew online. It seems like everyone that sees it says "it's expired" Then I have to tell them "read the back". It's a pain sometimes.

[CID_0687]

Remember when we would get the 2 oz bag of salted peanuts and put them in the RC bottle. I can still taste that just thinking about it. It was good. :)
I like doing that with a Dr. Pepper.

[gwhughes]

Mark of the Beast!!!!

Burn the card burn it I say!!

:))

I wouldn't to that far, but wouldn't put it past them to sell their dossiers to companies for marketing.

[wayoverthehill]

Remember when we would get the 2 oz bag of salted peanuts and put them in the RC bottle. I can still taste that just thinking about it. It was good. :)I've seen peeps do that with Coke but I've never tried it myself.