Information contained on Texas Driver's License?

[Charles L. Cotton]

Does anyone know what information is contained in the magnetic strip of a Texas Driver's License? Is it just the license number with it being used to access the DPS file on the person, or does it contain more information?

If it does have things like name and address, does anyone know if card readers/scanners can access it and are those readers available to the public?

Thanks,
Chas.

[gemini]

http://www.card-reader.com/idscan_magnetic.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://dcm.uhcl.edu/caps7g8/Drivers%20License.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Page 2 of 6 gives Texas DL info specs.

Hope this helps.

[tx181]

Looking at the links provided by gemini, the answers are:
The information on the strip is the same information that is on the face of the license.
And card readers can access it and are available to the public for around $350.

[KD5NRH]

And card readers can access it and are available to the public for around $350.

If it follows the ISO standards, then they're a lot cheaper: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.17726" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thankGod]

It was my understanding that the magnetic strip would contain your personal information (as printed on the front of the the TDL), but was mainly for information regarding organ donation in case of accident.

[PBratton]

As mentioned above, the mag stripe contains the data on the front of the card. Should be in standard track 2 format, just like the data on your ATM card...

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Well, if the data on the front of your license is the
only data on the magnetic stripe, there has to be
some kind of software link over to the CHL file then,
since it's my understanding that your DL check by a LEO
will result in your CHL status being available to the LEO.

There was discussion on the forum from a while back
that your DL check will point LEO's to your CHL status.

But that your vehicle license plates do not link over to CHL
data.

YMMV.

SIA

[Charles L. Cotton]

Thanks folks. I was concerned that the DL might be like a generic "smart card" you buy that contains only its serial number. The use I have in mind requires that the name and address be available. Is it possible to harvest only that information and nothing else?

Chas.

[Keith B]

Well, if the data on the front of your license is the
only data on the magnetic stripe, there has to be
some kind of software link over to the CHL file then,
since it's my understanding that your DL check by a LEO
will result in your CHL status being available to the LEO.

There was discussion on the forum from a while back
that your DL check will point LEO's to your CHL status.

But that your vehicle license plates do not link over to CHL
data.

YMMV.

SIA

The police use the TLETS (Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System) to run your drivers license through. This has a link to the CHL information. Anyone other than law enforcement or approved state agencies will not have information on CHL on you just by scanning your mag strip on the DL.

[ES4Me]

Charles - the old driver's licenses with the magnetic strip are being replaced with the Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) which contains and RFID chip just like the new passports. This RFID chip is supposed to contain the same information as your passport to comply with the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative".
These RFID's continuously transmit - so I encourage anyone with the new style driver's license (they look quite different from the old version) to purchase those sleeves or wallets which block transmission of the RFID signal unless you need/want it read.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Charles - the old driver's licenses with the magnetic strip are being replaced with the Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) which contains and RFID chip just like the new passports. This RFID chip is supposed to contain the same information as your passport to comply with the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative".
These RFID's continuously transmit - so I encourage anyone with the new style driver's license (they look quite different from the old version) to purchase those sleeves or wallets which block transmission of the RFID signal unless you need/want it read.

Since we're all going to have these at some point, do I take it that it will not be possible to harvest only the name and address? I'm trying to streamline the process of joining the TSRA at an event, or anywhere else, when not using a computer. Having to fill out a paper registration form is very time consuming for our Regional Directors and anyone else signing up members. Then our office staff have to input this information in the database. I want to be able to provide scanners and then upload the data to our database. This would be much faster for everyone and it would reduce the opportunity for errors due to poor handwriting, keypunch errors, etc.

Chas.

[KD5NRH]

I'm trying to streamline the process of joining the TSRA at an event, or anywhere else, when not using a computer.

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinions/opi ... jc0499.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Rex B]

I'm trying to streamline the process of joining the TSRA at an event, or anywhere else, when not using a computer. Having to fill out a paper registration form is very time consuming for our Regional Directors and anyone else signing up members. Then our office staff have to input this information in the database. I want to be able to provide scanners and then upload the data to our database. This would be much faster for everyone and it would reduce the opportunity for errors due to poor handwriting, keypunch errors, etc.
Chas.

I wondered about this when I re-upped Saturday. I didn't mind filling out the card, with information they already had. I was surprised there was not a space provided to just write in the member number and skip the rest. I could see someone was probably in for a few days of keypunching.

Charles, on a related subject, I'm not a hat guy, but I took the cap and bag given me, as usual. I know those things cost $5 or more for a nice cap like that - 20% of the dues. I would suggest you give the new/renewed member a coupon redeemable for a cap or equivalent item inside at a TSRA booth. Then they can skip it and let TSRA keep the money, get something else they would use. It would also save the cost of some of those plastic bags

[nitrogen]

HOw do you mean "only harvest names and addresses"

translating from computer geekese to regular english: The reader hardware will load ALL the information contained in the card into memory, transferring the ENTIRE contents of the card into software, then the software application will look at that ENTIRE thing, and pull out the bits it wants.

If you're custom developing an application, you can develop it so that it only saves the information you want to disk.

Developing an application that'll dump names and addresses from a license into a file would probably be pretty easy if I can get access to the hardware, I could probably do it in an afternoon or two.

Plenty of restaurants will read the magstripe of your license to comply with the crazy Texas laws on Alcohol, so I'm sure you can find something that'll do what you want.

[KD5NRH]

Plenty of restaurants will read the magstripe of your license to comply with the crazy Texas laws on Alcohol, so I'm sure you can find something that'll do what you want.

From the AG opinion above:

In addition, state law limits the kind of information that may be included in the magnetic strip on a driver’s license and requires the DPS to “take necessary steps to ensure that the information is used only for law enforcement or governmental purposes.”
...
section 109.61 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code permits use of information on the magnetic strip “for the purpose of complying with this code or a rule of the” Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (the “TABC”).

Since a violation would be a class A misdemeanor, (with all the attendant problems for a CHL holder) I'd strongly advise consulting an attorney before reading another person's DL strip for any reason other than those specifically permitted. So if you see Charles talking to himself, you'll know why.