Question: What data is embedded in our driver’s licenses? When renewing a license, the clerk is inputting a great deal of data into the computer. Our license has a "hidden" box which lets electronic data screeners identify individuals (and heaven knows what else). In this day and age of ID theft, it’s important for the public to know what personal data they are carrying in their wallets/purses.

Answer: Hawaii does not have an embedded chip in its driver’s licenses.

Instead, Hawaii driver’s licenses have a bi-dimensional bar code on the back, and what you see on the front is what you get when you scan the bar code.

"The 2-D bar code on the back of the card contains the same information that is printed on the front of the card," said Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division. Nothing more, he said.

Other states might have additional information — such as emergency medical and contact information that is not found on the front of the card — embedded in a microchip.

"Hawaii’s card does not have a chip, and the only information in the bi-dimensional bar code is the information printed on the front of the card," Kamimura said.

The smaller, linear bar code on the back contains the driver’s license number.

Protections Against Scanning

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed into law Senate Bill 2419, which allows businesses to scan personal information on driver’s licenses and state ID cards "for limited purposes only." See is.gd/l2vAD3.

The ACLU of Hawaii has posted information on its website — is.gd/b0T7Kq — explaining the law, saying it "better protects your privacy by banning private businesses from scanning your driver’s license and collecting, storing, using and/or sharing the personal information contained in the barcode, except in limited circumstances."

Before the law was passed, there were no such restrictions.

According to the ACLU, "When permitted, a business may collect ONLY your name, address, date of birth, and license number or ID card number."

It says a local business may scan driver’s license bar codes only in certain circumstances:

» To verify a customer’s age when there is a reasonable doubt that he/she is 18 or older when buying age-restricted goods or services, including alcohol, cigarettes, Nicorette gum, mature video games or cold medicines.

» To verify identity and authenticity of the identification when a customer pays for something with a credit or debit card, returns an item or requests a refund or an exchange.

» To prevent fraud when a customer seeks a refund or exchange and the business uses a fraud prevention service.

» When the business is establishing or maintaining a contract with you, such as a cellphone plan contract.

The ACLU says it knows of nine stores/companies in Hawaii currently affected by the law: Famous Footwear, Victoria’s Secret, Finish Line, 7-Eleven, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Verizon and AT&T. If you know of others, contact the ACLU at 522-5900 or at www.acluhawaii.org.

If you think your license is being scanned illegally, contact the state Office of Consumer Protection at hawaii.gov/dcca/ocp; and/or the state Office of Information Practices, www.state.hi.us/oip; or the ACLU.

AUWE

To bus riders who seem to feel that their bags, purses or packages deserve a seat more than other paying passengers. I hadn’t ridden a bus in years until a recent car accident, and it just amazed me how inconsiderate some people are. I’ve seen people forced to stand because the bus was full, and it didn’t seem to bother those seat hogs one bit. Come on, people, let’s all use some common sense and show a little aloha to each other.

— No Name

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