Is not somewhat interesting that Hawaii uses basically the same security standards for their documents in 2012 that Nebraska used in 1993 - basically cross-hatch low security paper and de-embossed stamps.
http://www.securitypaperstore.com/designsecureamp8482-basketw8483.html
Basically this is on the market as DesignSecure. It is the most basic of ‘security paper’.
In 19 years security standards for official documents or certified reproductions have gotten more stringent.
I have had to handle a lot of BCs. And ensure they were authentic, state-issued BCs. National level youth sports is somewhat picky about this requirement - a lot more picky than the Congressional College or SoSs of states. A kid does not get to play without an actual, real, state issue (no hospital issued) document with the required ‘seal’. No photocopies, no scans, no getting around it.
So I have had parents hand me photocopies, scans, pictures, etc. But each time I had to tell them - I need the real, actual document and nothing less. We have overnighted documents to a tournament location just so a child could play a game. Yes, the people who manage this do not accept anything less than the real McCoy.
It is just amazing that Hawaii actually reduced their security features on their BCs since 1993. We know this due to the Peterboy document (that HDOH now hides behind a password on their official website). This document was forced into the public when a missing boy became big news in Hawaii. His document show features well beyond the basketweave and de-embossed stamp. It had features that I got accustomed to seeing handling multiple BCs from different states for youth sports.
What are these features:
Seals that are slightly raised and embossed. These are made specifically NOT to copy or scan. As we have seen the ‘stamp’ from both Nebraska and Hawaii show easily when copied. This defeats the purpose of document fraud. You do NOT want these features to easily copy or scan. Embossed emblems that are only slightly raised off the paper are all but impossible to scan.
Voidsecure pattern. This pattern is in the document and only shows up clearly when the document is photocopied. This pattern does not show up well when a document is scanned but it it still there if you know what to look for. This particular feature shows the difference between digital scanning and ordinary ‘photo-copying’. In the Peterboy this feature was present. Not so in current Hawaii documents.
Watermarks. Watermarks built into the paper and only show when held to the light at at an angle. Watermarks also are all but impossible to scan or copy at all. These are very common in BCs.
Micro printing. Common in checks. Used by some states for BCs. What looks like a line is really very tightly compacted printing. Again, when scanned or copied it usually creates just a line.
Hawaii intentionally ‘dumbed down’ their documents since the Peterboy document was issued. When? Not sure but they went backwards.
As a comparison here is this famous BC - Bobby Jindals. Notice - no ‘raised seal’. It is probably there but not picked up in the scan. And the document does have the Void-secure feature for highlighting the hidden word VOID in the document. It does not jump out but if you have looked at enough BCs you can tell when it is there from a scan.
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/275045/BOBBY-JINDAL-BIRTH-CERTIFICATE.jpg
“I have had to handle a lot of BCs. And ensure they were authentic, state-issued BCs. National level youth sports is somewhat picky about this requirement - a lot more picky than the Congressional College or SoSs of states.”
Are you saying your personal experience is with Hawaii issued birth certificates?
FWIW, it was well known in the 90s that Hawaii, only becoming a state in 1959, had a very significant black market in ‘legal documents’. Every ‘profession’ had a black market for licensure for the local Hawaiians.
Once established over 30 years, even birth certificates were easily marketed.
