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Stores scanning drivers licenses

9.4K views 50 replies 35 participants last post by  labotomi  
#1 ·
I'd heard about this, but today was the first time I've experienced it firsthand.

After shopping for a few things at the local Target, I decided to pick up a bottle of wine. At the counter, the cashier asked for my drivers license which I provided. She then scanned into the computer without asking or notifying me. Needless to say, I was stunned.

What information could they legitimately need that couldn't be seen on the front of the license by the cashier and not stored in their database?

Identity theft is at an all time high due to these companies collecting all the information needed into these supposedly "secure" databases.

I have sent an email to the Target Corporate Office expressing my distain and needless to say, won't be shopping there again. There's too many other places I can shop that don't collect my personal information.
 
#3 ·
Good rule of thumb. Show them your license if they need verification, but keep it in your own hand. There is no real reason for them to swipe it other than snatching on to your personal info when all they need is to visually verify your date of birth.
 
#5 ·
The use is often far less nefarious but still despicable.

The added info they get from your card is used for additional marketing and demographics info so they can target you with products you'd be more likely to use. They claim it to be a service.

But they never admit fault when they lose that personal info to identity thieves.
 
#19 ·
Mine has both barcode and strip.

the License belongs to the state legally, altering it is illegal. now I don’t know who is going to actually prosecute you, its one of those catch 22 laws.

They swipe it just like they do in clubs to verify your age.

all the barcode has enough room for is the information contained on the front.

Nothing nefarious here.

If you have the newer license or passport with the RFID in them they don’t even need to touch it to scan it.

Welcome to the New Age folks.
 
#40 ·
Arg.

"Texas' current driver's license uses both magnetic stripe and bar-code technology in a format similar to a credit or debit card. The bar-code information is used for DPS administrative functions at the driver's license offices; the magnetic stripe contains all the information printed on the front of the card. DPS is equipping officers' cars with magnetic stripe readers so that officers, with a swipe of the driver's license, can check the driver's eligibility to operate an automobile.

The next innovation in card technology is the "smart card," a card containing an integrated circuit and a microprocessor.[8] The smart card can contain much more information than a magnetic stripe or a bar code"
 
#28 ·
I refuse to let them scan it, they cant either, a piece of card board behind the license for a couple of months wears out the stuff a might quicker... so I'm told.

Another thing Ive noticed is they have been asking for my phone number a lot if they haven't been asking for the card. 555-555-5555, some get the humor, only one has gotten mad at me. Or if there cute ill ask if its for there personal use.
 
#33 ·
The phone number is definitely for marketing. I won't lie to avoid their stupid tactics I tell them its unlisted or simply none of their business. You do not have to provide them with ANY information. The exception is unless your buying tobacco or alcohol. And only then if you want to continue the purchase. (lol I tired)
 
#29 ·
When the Bar or the store ask for ID I just give them my retired military ID. It cant be scanned by their machines. When the bar ask me why I dont have a license I just tell them I got a DUI and dont have one anymore but drive anyways, kinda like the Illegals Aliens here do. They need a phone number? Just make one up on the spot. Need a Zip Code? Ill give them one from out of state.

And yet we wonder why ID theft is so rampant...
 
#30 ·
I'd heard about this, but today was the first time I've experienced it firsthand.

After shopping for a few things at the local Target, I decided to pick up a bottle of wine. At the counter, the cashier asked for my drivers license which I provided. She then scanned into the computer without asking or notifying me. Needless to say, I was stunned.

What information could they legitimately need that couldn't be seen on the front of the license by the cashier and not stored in their database?
There are certain places over here where they check for warrants, court orders and apprehended violence orders, none of which is listed on the licence.
 
#34 · (Edited)
Don't forget the ones with RFID chips in them, as the DMV guy told me 2 years ago when I lived in PA that the next generation of d.l. Was going to have them installed. As far as keeping the license with the mag. Strip and or the RFID chip "safe" don't accidentally hit the chip with a ball peen hammer or do not accidentally put it in the microwave for 2 sessions of 5 seconds or so. Remember do NOT do those things and your licenses will be safe and last for years.
 
#36 ·
If you own a driver's license, you are open to identity theft. Doesn't take a Target worker to need a scanner. BTW, I used to be a sales manager for a large box store and everytime you pay with your credit card, the computer keeps the entire 16 digit number on file meaning any cashier who is smart enough and wanted to bad enough can just pull it up, go home and shop contentedly away without having to worry about your license. While it usually took at least local admin rights to access the info, we fired two cashiers and had them arrested for this while I worked there. The second one had made purchases in excess of 30k over the course of one year.
 
#39 ·
Whenever something like this happens I ask WHY? It does not hurt to ask why? I would probably say no or if it was a question about zip code, phone number, etc I give a fake one. Do you want Target or anyone else knowing what you are buying? If it's the state law well you may be screwed but if it's not simply say no thanks and typically the person will back off. We give up too much information to folks. I have seen too many forms that ask for SSN and such and I don't fill it out. Don't forget to use fake phone numbers unless you really want to company to contact you
 
#41 ·
I had this happen this week at Walmart. I was buying propane and 20 bottles of laundry soap. No wine. Went to the tax office to pay property taxes and had too show I was a United States resident. All county offices were checking Citizenship. Whoooooooo hooooooooo. Alabama is seriously enforcing immigration and bringing jobs back too our state. The illegals aren't showing up at the chicken plants or tomato fields and those places are hiring U.S. citizens too work. The owners of the chicken plants are complaining of having to pay more money to workers. Go figure, the illegals were being paid under the table as contract labor. Same with the tomato farmers. I for one am glad my state is enforcing illegal immigration. Alabamians are working again! That is a good thing!!
 
#44 ·
I was lid off after 37 years at NASA and the only job I could find was at a liquor store part time making $10 an hour.
We recently obtained a driver license reader that scans your license to make sure it's not fake and you are of age to purchase booze.
The liquor store got hit once from a sting operation by the state police.
Not only did the liquor store take a hit but the person at the cashier also had to go to court.

In some cases working at the register selling booze to minors by accident, I could be fined up to $5000.00 personally.

That's why they scan, I can't see why they would scan at Target's Wal-Mart...etc.

BTW, the new owner of the liquor store laid me off last Thursday, couldn't afford that whopping $10 an hour to pay me.
dan
 
#48 ·
Go to the Doctors office they scan your DL nowadays.

Go to the scrap yard they also scan your DL.

More and more places will be doing it as the technology is getting more cost effective and the legal issues are getting to expensive not to buy a scanner and verify.

Its for Verification Only will become a often used term in the years to come and pretty soon you will have a hard time buying anything without verification.

The gubermint is wanting to verify everything so them revenuers dont miss a penny of your hard earned money that they extort from us daily.
 
#50 ·
I don't let any store scan my ID for any reason. Like scalphunter I keep my ID in my hand and never hand it to any store clerk. I seldom use anything but cash so I see no reason to even let anyone see my drivers license other than buying guns. I am so old there is no doubt I am over 21 the few times I buy booze or visit a bar.

If someone pushed asking for my DL I would just leave. If I was in a playful mood I would tell the clerk was a illegal alien or just got out of prison after 40 years. Anyone who just hands over their documents when there is no real need should rethink that response.

Nobody will scan my drivers license!

Red
 
#51 ·
I know that in Tennessee it's the law that they must check your ID for alcohol purchases no matter how old you look. It would suck to have to drive to another state to purchase alcohol.

I agree about the scanning part though. I received the standard "company policy" reply to my email from Target. I asked for further information concerning the information obtained, usage including third parties, retention, procedure to get it removed.

I also stated that if they were unable to address my concerns to provide me with the contact information for someone that can. I'm not sure if it will do any good, but I'll keep annoying them nonetheless.