A License to Print

A look into fingerprinting and license plates as means of authenticating identity

Identification: The who's who

Identity and Identification can be a very confusing subject. There are many methods used worldwide in order to identify someone or something, ranging from simply a colour or a name to the complex DNA of an individual or a retina scan. Some are used simply to determine one person from the person next to them, whereas another maybe be completely unique to that person or object. Methods of identification range widely in what they are trying to achieve, and this in turn brings up the issue of confidence and reliability. Level of confidence relates to how confident can a verifier be, that the claim being made is correct? For example, how confident can you be that the person next to you really is who they say they are? If they gave you a name for example, this offers very low confidence, whereas as they offered up a DNA sample, confidence could be a lot higher. The aim of this article is to compare and contrast two very different methods of identification from two very different industries.

The first of these is the car industry which for many years, and in almost every country worldwide, uses a system of license plates to identify one vehicle from another. By law, anyone driving a vehicle must carry a license plate that reforms to the government rules and regulations. Generally speaking, the plate consists of a string of numbers and letters put together in a unique combination, allowing officers of the law and the government to determine which car is which. A list of all the issued license plates is stored on a government database.

The second of these industries is related to crime detection and prevention, and the ever increasing use of fingerprinting individuals. For many years forensic scientists have 'dusted for prints' at the scene of a crime to try and uncover who, if anyone at all, was present. These prints can then be compared to a database (usually consisting of past offenders) to see if any matches occur, and hence identifying the criminal. But just how reliable are these methods? Can license plates be ambiguous, and do the scientists ever get it wrong? Through analysis and research I will look into each methods attributes, the varying ways and degrees of authentication and try to discover what they are trying to achieve, how much they can be relied upon, and any other issues raised because of them.

The Attributes used for Identification

So we can identify something successfully, the object or person must have attributes that the verifier can confirm as individual to the person or object, thus making it unique. In some cases, more than one attribute may be necessary in order to confidently make any identification.

With this in mind it is imperative in the case of license plates, that one plate cannot be the same as any other. The attributes themselves are actually more complex than one might suspect. Although a license plate's main attributes may simply be the combination of letters and numbers, they also possess many other attributes that can offer the verifier reassurance. The order of the combination is vital and could possibly tell the verifier a lot more about the car and even the person driving it. The number issued is not the only attribute on the plate itself. The style of the plate will give the verifier a solid idea of where the plate (and possibly car) comes from, as nearly all are specific to the country registered. In the UK, it is even possible to determine the area where the plate was originally registered, and indeed the local registration office. On top of this the first letter (UK plates from 1983-2001) or the 3rd and 4th number (2001-present day) of the plate, gives an accurate representation as to when the licence plate was issued, and in turn can hold a big clue as to the age of the vehicle. Between the 1st August, 1983, and the 31st July, 1984, the letter A was issued to any plate registered in that year and B in August 84 and so on and so forth. As long as the verifier knows this information, they can be fairly confident on the age of the vehicle (a car with a license plate beginning with the letter G was either issued in 1989 or 1990). This however, cannot be said with one hundred percent confidence as plates may be re-registered to a different car, or a private plate (sometimes purchased simply to cover up the age of the vehicle) might have been registered.

The attributes for fingerprint identification (professionally known as Dactyloscopy) can also be fairly complex. The commonly held prognosis is the friction ridges formed on a person’s right and left index fingers are the main attribute. The style, length and depth of the ridges created by an imprint of the finger is used to determine who imprinted them. The scientific basis for actually using such prints as a method of identification, assumes that no two fingerprints (combination of various friction ridges in the skin) are the same, hence making each fingerprint unique. The print itself can be made using a number of contaminants (such as ink, blood, dust etc) or even electronically.

Authentication Methods to Verify Identity

In order to prove identity, the claim that is being made must be verified. These methods must offer a certain level of reliability in order that the verifier can be sufficiently confident that the claim they are verifying is indeed correct.

In the case of license plates, we have already determined that no two plates are the same. The method then is to compare the plate visible on the vehicle with that stored in a national or regional database. (This can be dependant on the country the car is registered in). The database itself not only contains information about what car the plate is registered too, but indeed the registered keeper of the plate, their address, tax information etc. These can be useful to law authorities if they suspect a car has been stolen. With this in mind, level of confidence is high, assuming that the plates are indeed real, and have not been made up or 'faked'. However, the method can still work as the database will determine if a certain combination is not in existence and evidence of foul play comes to light. The previous attributes described such as area code can also prove useful, especially if only partial letters and numbers can be remembered or were spotted. This information and the make of the car could possibly be sufficient to verify the whole plate and hence determine identity. It is worth noting however, that if the whole combination is present, these other attributes may be considered invariant.

In Fingerprinting, a similar method is used, that to compare. Once a fingerprint has been collected, the result can then be electronically compared using a database for crime prevention (which usually holds information provided by known criminals only). With this in mind, sometimes no matches may be found, and in which case various suspects’ prints taken directly from the suspect by law officers may be compared to some found at the scene, in order for a match to be obtained. However, this may be changing as more and more fingerprints of 'innocent individuals' are being recorded every day. When entering the U.S., all non citizens are required to provide prints, and so the database is forever growing. In fact, it is believed that 10,000 new prints are being recorded per day in the U.S. alone. Level of confidence for verifying identity is debatable however, considering fingerprints have a history plagued in controversy. Although it is common knowledge that no two are alike, some believe the methods of analysis are not accurate enough to distinguish the differences between them, even with the introduction of electronically comparing them. This can be explained by the inconsistencies that can be caused by sweat, the surface the print was taken from, or indeed the material used to take the print.

Fingerprinting can also be used as an access device to authorised sections of buildings or computers. The information of the prints that are allowed access are usually held on a database and then compared electronically with the one trying to gain access. The level of confidence of the area remaining secure however is low in this case as it has been proved that fingerprints can be faked using gel materials. It also remains fact that the claimant trying to gain access only needs the correct fingerprint, and just because they do not possess this on their own hand, does not mean it can not be maintained by other means.

It is worth noting that both methods are similar in that their attributes are compared with that already known to exist to check that they are correct. Level of confidence is generally high in both license plates and fingerprinting but it would seem that both are possibly vulnerable to fraud and theft.

The Historical Context

License plates have been around ever since the first automobile, dating back to the late 1800s. Originally, plates used a numerical system which was believed to have started in central Europe. The first UK system followed a similar pattern, but was quickly adapted to tie in with the increase in production of road vehicles. London issued the first ever UK plate in 1903, and introduced letters to allow for many more combinations to be potentially created. The first plate ever issued in London was the infamous 'A1' plate, which is believed to be worth in excess of 1 million pounds sterling. Number plates continued in such a vain for a short while, until the amount of vehicles caused for a new system. After this, a system involving two letters and 4 numbers was introduced, the letters being incremented when the numbers became exhausted. This proved unsuccessful due to population issues and by 1930 a 3 letter, 3 number combinations was introduced, but this also ran out of combinations by the mid 1950s, and so was reversed. In 1965, the number plate format changed again, with a suffix letter being appended - a change from 6 digits to 7 allowed an increased number of plates to be issued before the registration format were exhausted. In 1983, the suffix system was replaced by the prefix, a letter followed by 3 numbers and 3 letters. In 2001 the current system was implemented with two prefix letters followed by two numbers. As well as these changes in combinations, changes in style have also occurred, mainly to increase visibility of the plates. It is safe to say that these changes can be mainly related to the increase of cars requiring registration but on top of this, the newer style plates tell much more about the car and the area it is from than that of the older formats.

The first ever fingerprinting was recorded to be taken in the 14th Century where a Persian doctor prophesised that no two fingerprints are alike. However, many credit Dr Henry Faulds as the first man to discover that fingerprinting could be used for a means of identification. He published his thesis in the scientific journal 'Nature' in 1880. He presented his ideas in the same year to the Metropolitan police who dismissed the idea. In fact, it wasn't until 1892 that fingerprints were being used in crime detection and prevention. Juan Vicetech, an Argentine policeman proved a man guilty of murder using evidence provided by fingerprinting after Sir Francis Galton had published a detailed book demonstrating the potential for fingerprinting in forensic science. As more cases were successfully settled, the technique spread and by 1901, the first UK fingerprinting bureau was opened. Since this time, fingerprinting has evolved into the highly technical and challenging aspect of forensic science that it is today.

Developed similarly, both license plate and fingerprint technology have adapted as time has gone by. This is to be expected when considered that records of both prints and plates are stored electronically.

Who Benefits from these Methods?

When considering who benefits from the current method of identification and authentication, it is wise to consider all perspective angles. With License Plates, it is clear that the government agencies have a large benefit from the current system. They can track, monitor, tax and fine any vehicle by using its plate as identification. However, we must also consider that the individual would not be allowed to drive a vehicle without them, and hence the individual may benefit as they are indeed allowed to use the public highways. Some individuals may also choose to buy private or re-registered number plate to stand out from the crowd or for whatever other personal reasons. They may feel they are benefiting but in fact the government also benefits from the money exchanged for such pleasures. In the U.K. the fee for a registration plate transfer is £80 pound sterling.

In the business of fingerprinting, crime prevention is the main benefactor, and hence the everyday law abiding citizen is also deemed to be benefiting. Some individuals may resent this assumption however; as fingerprints are now required by law in order to gain access to some countries. Some individuals may deem this an invasion of privacy, and feel it is against human rights etc. In cases such as these however, it also may be argued that an innocent individual has nothing to hide, although people with such beliefs may eat their words if they are ever forced into a life of crime. Benefiting or not, arguments such as these come down to a matter of opinion. At the other end of the fingerprinting spectrum, companies that use prints as a means of access can benefit from the increased security a fingerprint scan entry system can provide.

The Effects and Risks on the Individual and their Data

When considering the risks and effects on personal data, it is important to look into the concept of privacy. Although the definition of privacy can vary from individual to individual it can be defined as the right to control personal access. For some people, they may not be concerned in giving up any personal data, as long as they believe the source can be trusted to a high enough level of confidence. To others though, simply the idea of telling anything about themselves is deemed a harsh infringement of human rights. It is these differences in opinion that make it interesting, yet sometimes difficult, to try and define any effects the collection of data may ensue.

In terms of license plates, it is true to say that many people can have an educated guess as to where an individual's car is from (and hence leading them to conclude the individual is also from such an area) and indeed how old the car they are driving is. In the extreme, this may cause prejudice in some people’s eyes. People may make judgements on others from the fact they drive an old car or come from Swindon, whether the individual driving the car is concerned however, again is a matter of opinion. It is also fact that the Government, by law, know what car you drive, and technically speaking, how you drive it, with this information stored on a database.

This idea reigns true in the field of fingerprinting as well. Some may consider giving their fingerprints up in order to enter a country completely unacceptable whereas the next man may feel it is his privilege. However people feel about it, it would seem that it is becoming more precedent as years go by. The fingerprinting of U.K school children, sometimes without the permission of the child's parents was greeted with outcry among many. Described by newspapers as 'prison-style', the system was developed to replace the rather more traditional system of library cards. The idea of fingerprinting children aged between 11 and 15 for a 'more secure' U.K. passport system has also been discussed and could possibly be implemented in 2008. Such talks were also described as 'arrogant' and opposing party leaders accused the government of 'ending the presumption of innocence'.

However you look at it, it is a subject that must be dealt with in a careful manner, and the reaction received may depend greatly on the perceptions of the group addressed.

Conclusion

Identity and Identification can be a very confusing subject. The research gone into this article proves this point too be true. It would seem that an individual is after the greatest level of authentication possible in order that their personal data is secure. However, in order for these authentication systems to be secure, they need more and more personal data to start with. As we have seen in the previous few paragraphs, this comes with a mixed reaction.

As for license plates and fingerprints, these have evolved in method as technology and understanding also evolves. This is only to be expected, but what is to come for the future? Microchips within license plates that give all the attributes of the driver and car? Fingerprints inside every passport, and given to authorities in order to gain access to every country? It seems the more attributes we have available to compare; the more confident we can be of a correct authentication. Perhaps even an innocent individual will have to present multiple attributes in the future just to prove they are who they say they are.

Have fun queuing at the airport.

References

[1] Anon (2007) How much is the transfer fee? Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.regtransfers.co.uk/main/faq/buying/transfer_fee.asp
[2] Anon (2007) A History of Number Plates Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.number-plates-car-registrations.co.uk/number_plate_registrations_history.html
[3] BBC News (2007) Child Fingerprint Plan Considered Retrieved October 2007, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6417565.stm
[4] David R. Ashbaugh (1999) Ridgeology Retrieved October 2007, from http://onin.com/fp/ridgeology.pdf
[5] E Moler et al (2003) Enhancement techniques in fingerprints as a tool in Dactyloscopy Retrieved October 2007, from http://journal.info.unlp.edu.ar/journal/journal9/papers/JCST-Oct03-9.pdf
[6] E.R. Henry (1900) Classifications and Uses Of Fingerprints Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.clpex.com/Information/Pioneers/henry-classification.pdf
[7] Francis Gaulton (1892) Fingerprints Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.clpex.com/Information/Pioneers/galton-1892-fingerprints-lowres.pdf
[8] John Leyden (2002) Fingerprinting of U.K. School Kids causes outcry Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/07/22/fingerprinting_of_uk_school_kids/
[9] Mark Ballard (2006) Schools can fingerprint children without parental consent Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/07/kiddyprinting_allowed/