[Infowarrior] - DC DMV explores RFID on drivers licenses

[Richard Forno]

http://tinyurl.com/yv2gx7

DMV explores SmarTrip chips

D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles is planning an initiative to embed
SmarTrip computer chips inside every new D.C. driver¹s license as the most
efficient way to pay for transit service.

Michael Neibauer, The Examiner
2007-11-06 08:00:00.0
Current rank: # 97 of 6,557
WASHINGTON -

Privacy advocates are alarmed by a D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles
initiative to embed SmarTrip computer chips inside every new D.C. driver¹s
license, making it easier than ever to track D.C. residents on their travels
through the transit system.

The DMV will spend $830,000 a year to install SmarTrip chips in all driver¹s
licenses and identification cards starting in October 2008. SmarTrip ³is the
most efficient way of paying for transit service,² according to DMV
documents, and lodging the chips in about 440,000 licenses ³will allow all
District residents access to SmarTrip cards and encourage transit use.²

DMV spokeswoman Janis Hazel said there was no plan to increase the cost of a
driver¹s license to offset the costs of the chip.

SmarTrip does, however, provide Metro and the government with a system to
follow users, though Hazel said the agency ³has no intention to track [a]
person¹s movements on the Metro system.²

³If you¹re paying your fare with it, they¹re going to have the ability to
know by name who entered each Metro station at what time and who exited a
Metro station at what time,² said Paul Stephens, director of policy and
advocacy with the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. ³That can be used by the
government to track your comings and goings. It¹s an absolutely awful idea.²

Metro¹s policy is to release Smar-Trip information to law enforcement
purposes, or at a cardholder¹s request. A Metro spokesman said the transit
agency¹s privacy rules are ³very strict.²

The SmarTrip technology allows users to breeze through fare gates at
Metrorail stations, to park at a Metro garage or to pay their fares on a
Metrobus. SmarTrip cards usually cost $5 to buy.

Expanding SmarTrip into driver¹s licenses offers ³yet another opportunity to
reduce vehicular traffic in the downtown area,² said D.C. Council Chairman
Vincent Gray, whose government ID badge has a SmarTrip built in.

But Melissa Ngo with the D.C.-based Electronic Privacy Information Center
said D.C. is ³setting up an infrastructure where the government can track
you all the time.² Combining a license, smart card, credit card and ID badge
into one ³leaves you open to identity theft on a variety of levels,² she
said.

³It¹s just not good security,² Ngo said.

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration has discussed a similar
initiative, a spokesman said. It is unknown where Virginia stands.

mneibauer at dcexaminer.com