# Have you ever been fingerprinted? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122 "2016-05-07T00:12:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/41 "2016-05-07T13:25:21Z")
Nope. Never been caught. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/42 "2016-05-07T13:30:27Z")
I had no idea there were so many reasons people were fingerprinted. I only had it done when I was arrested. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/43 "2016-05-07T13:41:03Z")
Yep, several times at work, for security clearance to work on government contracts. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/44 "2016-05-07T14:23:40Z")
More times than I can remember. Military, government work, security clearances, police work. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/45 "2016-05-07T14:32:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Same here(California). > Full fingerprinting for my coaching job.(High school) Or getting something notarized. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/46 "2016-05-07T14:38:09Z")
Besides getting fingerprinted for some sort of child abduction paranoia thing in when I was a kid in the 80s, I was fingerprinted about five years ago when I volunteered at the municipal animal shelter. All volunteers had to go through the standard City of Chicago background check, and that included getting fingerprinted. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/47 "2016-05-07T14:40:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Or getting something notarized. Wait, what? How common is this, or is this new? I was a notary about ten years back when I worked for a law office, and there was no fingerprinting involved. I’ve had several documents notarized, and no fingerprinting there, either. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/48 "2016-05-07T14:45:40Z")
When I was a kid, Mom had my sister and I printed in case of abduction. I think there was some sort of opt-in program run through the schools, though I was young enough that I don’t remember most of the details. Much later, when I went into education, I was also fingerprinted as part of my background checks. Multiple times, actually, since apparently the results expire after some number of years. > [@](#): > > Quoth **Brother Cadfael** : > > Actually, now that I think about it, I had to submit fingerprints with my application (I had them taken at the local police department), but I don’t recall they were ever taken when I started work. Aside from the police officer’s signature on the fingerprint card, they had nothing to verify that those prints came from my fingers. They’re not doing it to verify that you’re you; they’re verifying that you’re not somebody else. They’re checking it against a database of criminal fingerprints. If you don’t match anyone in that database, then you’re fine, and don’t need to worry about it again. If you do match, of course, you (probably) wouldn’t have gotten the job (depending on just what the crime was that you matched). EDIT: I think this might actually be the only way fingerprints are used by law enforcement. Some years ago, our house was broken into, and some things stolen. The police were able to get good fingerprints from a number of surfaces. We had a pretty good suspicion of who it was, and that person’s fingerprints would have been on file, as he had been previously arrested for other incidents. But the police told us that they weren’t actually allowed to check for a match between them, as that would be a violation of the suspect’s privacy. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/49 "2016-05-07T15:34:43Z")
Several times. I know once was because I of where I worked, I had mug shots taken too. I might have had a detective trainee follow me as well. I know it’s been done more than once, I suppose some other jobs required it. Now I have my fingerprint on my phone. Not only to unlock the home screen but one of the banks I use lets me use my fingerprint for mobile banking - which is easier than remembering a password. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/50 "2016-05-07T15:39:36Z")
TSA pre-check. They don’t do it with ink anymore. Very clean and high tech Also, decades ago, I think when I applied for admission to Washington state bar. I’m a bit fuzzy on whether that was the reason, but I can think of anything else I was doing then that would require printing. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/51 "2016-05-07T15:39:46Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > EDIT: I see **TokyoBayer** above mentions both index fingers for Japan. Thought I’d remembered just the one, but I’ll defer to him. Anyway, I was definitely fingerprinted for Japan. I was in Japan two months ago, Narita airport, and I don’t think I was fingerprinted, but maybe I forgot. I do remember being fingerprinted in Cambodia this year, at the land border at Poi Pet, when departing… I know that I’ve never been fingerprinted with ink – just the electronic reader. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/52 "2016-05-07T15:45:11Z")
Our last trip to Japan was three years ago, and we were definitely fingerprinted at the port of entry. We’ll be in Cambodia in July. It’s been awhile, and they didn’t require fingerprinting the last time we were there. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/53 "2016-05-07T16:09:57Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > I think this is like asking, “Have you ever moved out of your parents’ house?” Few people can avoid it forever. I managed to go 40 years without being printed. I didn’t realize it was such a common occurrence. I feel so sheltered. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/54 "2016-05-07T18:31:17Z")
Numerous times. Deputy sheriff, jobs requiring secret clearances, etc., etc. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/55 "2016-05-07T19:21:35Z")
I’m a commercial pilot, and I’ve been printed a few times for background checks. The last time a couple of years ago I was chatting with the tech and asked, “What do you do when you print a person who has more than five fingers on a hand?” (I actually know someone who has a remnant of a sixth finger) She replied, “We make an annotation.” I heard this as ‘amputation’ and looked suitably shocked. We were laughing so hard after clearing up the misunderstanding that people on line asked me what that was all about as I was leaving. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/56 "2016-05-07T20:06:26Z")
More agencies have my fingerprints than I can to count. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/57 "2016-05-07T20:28:42Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > I think this is like asking, “Have you ever moved out of your parents’ house?” Few people can avoid it forever. I kinda wonder about the circles you move in! If you never get arrested and don’t have a job requiring a background check, you don’t get printed. Only a very few people I know have ever been fingerprinted. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/58 "2016-05-07T20:46:30Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I kinda wonder about the circles you move in! If you never get arrested and don’t have a job requiring a background check, you don’t get printed. Only a very few people I know have ever been fingerprinted. Well, two of the “circles” I “move in”:[ul] [li]The Circle of Californians with a Driver License or ID card. We’re _ **very** _ exclusive. We only let in 8 million new members each year.[/li] [li]The Circle of Americans with a Passport. A small, select cadre of about 110,000,000 people.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/59 "2016-05-07T21:13:16Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Well, two of the “circles” I “move in”:[ul] > [li]The Circle of Californians with a Driver License or ID card. We’re _ **very** _ exclusive. We only let in 8 million new members each year.[/li] > [li]The Circle of Americans with a Passport. A small, select cadre of about 110,000,000 people.[/li][/ul] I’m pretty sure you can get a passport without fingerprints. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122/60 "2016-05-07T21:44:28Z")
I was in the Navy and then I worked for the Navy as a civilian - 37 total years. I held security clearances, so I was fingerprinted several times. I think the last time was 12 years ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-fingerprinted/754122.md?page=4)