New York now offering Enhanced Driver's Licenses with RFID
New York has now become the second state in the country to offer RFID-embedded driver's licenses. Following Washington State's lead last year, the radio-frequency identification (aka RFID) licenses will be offered at a $30 premium over the standard driver's license. The benefits of the RFID license include their ability to do double-duty as a driver's license and a U.S. passport for those who frequently enter New York from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean (of course, you will still need a "real" passport to enter the state from other international destinations). Authorities say that only an ID number, no personal info, is stored on the chip. Regardless, as some embedded chips may be read from a distance -- and not necessarily a direct line of site -- authorities in New York will still offer standard licenses for those on the paranoid side... or they can run out and purchase an RFID-blocking wallet. Thanks for the tip, Yash!
[Source: Car Tech, Photo from New York DMV]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
pmalloy4391 4:07PM (9/17/2008)
i for one am happy that they are still offering a regular one. I really wasnt looking forward to smashing my license when it comes time for renewal (a hammer is the only way to disable them properly without showing you intentionally did it)
Reply
geo.stewart 4:33PM (9/17/2008)
yes, because no matter what they say, that 'only an ID number' is ultimately tied back to your other information and now they dont have to steal your wallet, just scan everyone in the mall, hack into a state trooper's laptop or gov't db and get 1000's of IDs
I may be paranoid someone is going to try and steal my ID, but I'm right.
Flashpoint 8:30PM (9/17/2008)
Gee, I'm so glad that passive, frightened Americans have allowed the government to chip our ID cards and our Passports.
Has a great "Germany 1940's" feel to it
"Mine papers iz loosen !!!" - bourne Identity
The RFID type in question here most likely has all the data stored in asome facility and the police only need to scan your id number to retrieve data from the source. RFID is only dangerous for ID theft if#
#1 encryption is done locally
#2 there are conspirators in the agency who can manipulate your data.
I think the real reason we are seeing the REAL ID act is because THE RIECH WING IS GOING TO BANKRUPT SOCIAL SECURITY.
they tried to "privatize" it under Bush and failed. But, this time around they will use REAL ID as the national gestapo indentifier so that SS #s (get it? SS?) can be pushed aside in favor of these + passports.
coupled with the PATRIOT ACT, the government can now stop you from leaving the country, or easily put you on a "terrorist watch list". A CNN journalist ended up on that after doing an anti-bush plan story BTW.
WELCOME TO GERMANY !
Ray 10:40PM (9/17/2008)
In all fairness flashpoint, Social Security was bankrupt long ago and was actually created by a Democrat by the name of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was a failed system to begine with because he also created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Which allows big Banks to take massive risks with loans, and then the taxpayer pays the debt through a hidden tax called INFLATION. So Blame Bush all you want, you're holding a sitting President for the failures of both himself and the ones before him all in the act of trying to blame the United States problems on one man instead of all the politicians past and President.
This country is heading to Fascism/Dictatorship and it will be because we continue to vote the same lying crooks that are the majority parties. We need another party to not have it's message snuffed out by mainstream media in the back pockets of Washington Beauraucrats. The only option is a third party candidate and since Andrew Jackson we haven't had one. Now is the time.
Though everything is being blamed on Bush these days by clever manipulation of those politicians and mass media, and there is no way a Republican will be the next President because of it. Don't fret though, the Socialist police state we know and love will come when Obama is elected. All your freedoms will die by his sword and those in Congress. You'll see I'm right in these next few years.
Todd 4:07PM (9/17/2008)
Just chip the people who don't have any driving skills and sell me some little device that beeps when I approach them!
KTHXBAI!!1!
Reply
pmalloy4391 4:08PM (9/17/2008)
i for one am happy that they are still offering a regular one. I really wasnt looking forward to smashing my license when it comes time for renewal (a hammer is the only way to disable them properly without showing you intentionally did it)
Reply
pmalloy4391 4:09PM (9/17/2008)
i for one am happy that they are still offering a regular one. I really wasnt looking forward to smashing my license when it comes time for renewal (a hammer is the only way to disable them properly without showing you intentionally did it)
Reply
WetheSheeple 4:36PM (9/17/2008)
You can also put it in the microwave for 5-6 seconds and it will fry the RFID chip without altering the license.
pmalloy4391 4:53PM (9/17/2008)
the prob with the microwave, at least in passports is it will actually leave a little burn mark on it , which is tampering, which is a fine up to 25 years in jail and a felony on your record.
sometimes a hammer really is the best tool for the job
remo 4:24PM (9/17/2008)
Don't let the government ever chip you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PpMdTmVMpo
Reply
Parkerman 4:51PM (9/17/2008)
I bet you think we never landed on the moon either.. huh? lol
Kotse 10:06PM (9/17/2008)
RFID chips...a little gift (pun intended) to you courtesy of your soon to become "Police State of America"!
Who 'Dis? Who 'Dat? 4:25PM (9/17/2008)
Big Brother says, "I can seeeeeeeee youuuuuuuu."
Reply
stealthebeatles 4:34PM (9/17/2008)
I don't entirely like the thought of being tracked wherever I go. Next thing you know, these will replace I-Pass (or EZ Pass, which I think they use in New York/New Jersey).
Reply
JD 5:23PM (9/17/2008)
I think you're being a little paranoid about that aspect of it. While I do wholeheartedly oppose this because of how easy it would be to ID someone up close, like in a crowd, within 4 or 5 feet, the range on this size of an RFID device simply isn't high enough to replace devices like the EZPass. An EZ Pass is way bigger, in plain view, and has massive readers- this would be in your wallet, thin enough to slip into a normal ID card, and your body would be between the reader and the card. That won't work.
paul34 7:08PM (9/17/2008)
In Florida, we actually have RFID-based transponders for our E-Pass/SunPass system. I still use the regular electronic transponder, as I like to have beeps and confirmation of activity when it happens.
But for those who are okay with it, all you have to do is stick what looks like a small sticker on your windshield and it works just fine, except obviously you won't have any beeps or lights telling you that it charged since its just a RFID tag and not a full electronic device - just basically a sticker with a RFID chip in it.
JD 8:16PM (9/17/2008)
Yes, RFID is even what's powering your big beeping/blinking unit. I'm just saying that with your body between the sensor above and the tiny thing in your license, there is no way the big sensor up top will pick you up. My company is working on a feasability study for putting RFID in all products to ease checkout, ultimately setting up a system where all it takes is a push of your cart through a "gateway" that picks up RFID, and away you go. One of the big problems is that water will knock the signal dead very easily, and so will CDs..... I think your body has enough substance to interfere with reading the license through you.
CarbonBlack 4:37PM (9/17/2008)
If you are afraid of the RFID chips (for whatever reason), throw it in the microwave!
Reply
Bighead 4:48PM (9/17/2008)
Damn I just renewed my license yesterday at the NYS DMV.
Reply
John 5:59PM (9/17/2008)
It's coming folks, they are trying to warm us up slowing to the idea of ID chips. In the beginning it will be voluntary. Any bets on how long before it becomes mandatory?
They will try to tell us how much safer we all will be when the government can track our every move.
The march towards socialism continues.
Reply