In recent years many AAMVA Jurisdictions have been converting to technology-based DL/ID (driver’s license/identification cards). "Technology-based" refers to the concept that the information contained on the drivers license document is machine-readable. Two machine-readable formats are magnetic stripe and bar code. The IT Standing Committee (formerly the MVIS committee) and other standing committees recognized in 1991 the need to standardize the use of these technologies, to gain the greatest utility for use of the data.
At the 1991 MVIS Workshop, it was agreed that a working group would be established with the task of developing a standard and a format for the use of magnetic stripe technology. The working group consisted of jurisdictional representatives from each of the AAMVA regions in addition to several participants from the IAB (Industry Advisory Board). The working group established a "best practice" that was then published in September 1992.
The working group’s goal was to require an AAMVA compliant DL/ID to be readable by the standard credit card readers omnipresent in North America, as well as to establish a common medium that would support both state and local law enforcement. There is a growing need for driver identification information to assist law enforcement in processing traffic citations and other NCIC 2000 compliant reports in a more efficient manner through the use of technology. This will reduce the amount of time offices spend on preparation of reports and allow enforcement to perform their primary job, which is to serve and protect the citizens of their jurisdiction(s). It was then determined that the magnetic stripe with ISO Track #2 encoding (per the current AAMVA Best Practice) would provide one method of technology that would satisfy the driver identification requirement.
Magnetic stripe has a typical data capacity of about 200 bytes. Its primary purpose is for identification, and is normally self-contained with respect to required data to be usable off-line. The best example is the credit card. When read by a cashier, it yields the person's name, account number, expiration date, validity codes, etc., i.e. all the information required to complete the transaction without access to any computer data base. In short, with a magnetic stripe the desired information is stored on the card.
Many DMV program areas are looking at bar codes as potential tools to gain productivity, increase accuracy and reduce operating costs. Strong interest exists in the registration, titling, and drivers' licensing areas, and bar codes are likely to play a role in redesigned or new systems to deal with the Clean Air Act as well. Bar codes are having a positive role in many areas of motor vehicle and related businesses. A number of standing committees have included the consideration of bar codes in action plans developed as part of their Master Planning processes, which aligns them with AAMVA’s strategic direction.
The information systems support arena has recognized the potential for productive use of bar coding technology. In particular, a strong interest developed to maximize the potential to the entire AAMVA community by the development of community-wide guidelines or standards to foster inter-jurisdictional use of bar codes.
The Vehicle Registration and Titling committee (VRT), with the assistance of the IT Committee, started to create a vehicle template which identified all related fields utilized by the jurisdictions. In 1992, the MVIS standing committee formed a Working Group to investigate the systematic use of bar codes in the DMV community. The Working Group included representatives from other standing committees and industry. A preliminary report was developed by the Working Group and presented at the MVIS workshop in the spring of 1993. Subsequent communication to all Chief Administrators, Standing Committee Chairs and each jurisdiction's MVIS contact person included a copy of the preliminary report and a request to review and comment on its content.
Responses to the request for comments stressed the need for guidelines to address both linear and two dimensional bar codes and a desire to have a set of guidelines before the community as soon as possible.
A number of jurisdictions suggested that a staged report would be appropriate, since there was a desire on their part to conform with the community's overall direction as well as a need on their part for a near term solution to intra-jurisdictional issues. Therefore, the Working Group acknowledged that its recommendations did not address all aspects of this issue. Additional recommendations relating to such issues as data structure and encryption will be forthcoming.
At the 1993 MVIS workshop, it was decided that the recommendations to the AAMVA Community should be in the form of a "best practice" report which would be presented to all AAMVA Jurisdictions for both magnetic stripe and bar code technology. Such an approach is characteristic of the process followed by many recommendations which described the process by which the best practices report and any subsequent modifications would be balloted. The policy recommendation was approved by all four (4) regions at their respective meetings and approved at the International Business meeting in August, 1993.
Jurisdictions were also moving toward employing digital image technology to capture and store driver license information. Within the jurisdiction, this digital image data may be captured remotely, stored, transmitted to a central database, restored and printed. This entire process may be implemented in a number of ways. In the future, it was foreseen that jurisdictions would want to communicate with each other and exchange data, they do. A best practice for the transmission of digital images and photographs/signatures was also compiled.
Please note that the BPRs are primarily being made available for historical purposes. It is the recommendation of AAMVA that if a jurisdiction needs to use a MRT that it follow the AAMVA DL/ID 2005. AAMVA is working on a revision to the BPR for Bar Codes minus the DL related information. Any jurisdiction wanting to use Magnetic Stripe, Digital Imaging, or other MRTs in the future such as Integrated Circuit Cards and Optical Memory, will find what they need in the AAMVA DL/ID 2005.
The last versions of the BPRs for Magnetic Stripe and Digital Imaging can be found below. As stated AAMVA will continue its maintenance of the Best Practice for Bar Codes minus the DL related information.
The last versions of the Magnetic Stripe and Digital Imaging BPRs, along with the latest version of the Bar Code BPR follow:
*Note: All three Bar Code documents collectively represent the BPR. Translation = If you’re thinking of using bar codes read all three plus the AAMVA DL/ID 2005.
Contact: Rich Carter, Vice President, Identification Technology and Standards, (703) 522-4200.