does anyone know what information is encoded onto the magnetic strip of licenses?
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The copout answer is: it varies from state to state. I would imagine that it carries your name, address, and other information on the card, so it can be read by a machine instead of a human. AFAIK, California licenses have a strip, but I’ve never seen one run through any machine.
http://nbcin.nbc739.com/tvsd/news_archives/99-02-23-05license.shtml
At least that’s what the DMV says. More paranoid folks might want to find a scanner and check for themselves.
Here in AZ there are scanners inside of convenience stores so when you try to purchase alcohol or tobacco the attendant asks for your license, swipes it through the scanner, and the machine tells him/her if you are old enough…
I remember a cartoon from Playboy in the early 60s–never mind how I saw it then, when I was of junior-high school age–showing a young woman at a bar, trying to get served by baring her breasts to the bartender. He says, “I’m afraid I’ll still have to see your driver’s license.”
In Texas our Parks and Wildlife department issues hunting licenses under DL numbers. So when you buy a hunting license they just use your DL to set it up.
It’s all electronic now, so they have machines to swipe the licenses. The information is then automatically downloaded from the state mainframe and input into the hunting license application automatically. In doing this they’re much better able to track whether or not someone had already bought a license (and is therefore ineligible for the new one). I would also assume that in addition to the standard name and address info, that the mainframe also gives information as to whether or not someone can buy a license, like felony convictions, etc. Talk about big brother. The cops also use the strip when you get pulled over.
Gotta go.
We have similar machines here in New York, however, they’re used to determine if the license is counterfeit. They still rely on the clerks to do the math in dertimining age, though many places have made it a bit easier with ‘page-a-day’ type calanders that state: You must be born BEFORE todays date in 1982 to buy cigarettes, in 1979 to buy beer.
I drive way too fast to worry about my cholesterol.
I don’t think I have a magnetic strip on my license. At least, not that I can tell–it has broken into several pieces and no strange looking areas have been exposed. Of course, I live in BFE so maybe that explains it…
I have a hobby. I have the world’s largest collection of seashells. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world. Maybe you’ve seen some of it.
how long have they had the machines that check licenses for valid age?
i saw it for the first time last week
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