Posted on 03/22/2006 11:08:37 AM PST by Rebelbase
If you are stopped by police in Kansas, don’t be surprised if the officer pulls out a little black box and takes your fingerprints.
The gadget allows officers to identify people by fingerprints without hauling them to the police station.
Over the next year the Kansas Bureau of Investigation will test 60 of the devices with law enforcement agencies around the state. State officials said similar tests are being planned for New York, Milwaukee and Hawaii.
“This is definitely new,” said Gary Page, Overland Park Police Department crime lab. “It’s been talked about, but as far as I know they are not in use anywhere in the metro.”
The tests in Kansas are part of a bigger $3.6 million upgrade to the KBI’s statewide fingerprint database, unveiled Tuesday by the KBI and Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline.
■ The system:
Called the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System, it is a statewide database of more than 10 million fingerprints taken from people arrested in Kansas. The Missouri Highway Patrol maintains a similar database. Both systems link to the FBI fingerprint database.
■ How it works:
In Kansas, 54 law enforcement agencies have traded the ink-and-paper fingerprinting method for biometric imaging, which electronically scans a digital image of the print. Sixty Missouri agencies use biometric scanning. Police also can scan the fingers of corpses and people they arrest to match them against prints in the system. Results are obtained in seconds instead of hours. The inked cards still used by some smaller departments are also scanned into the statewide systems.
■ Why upgrade?
Kansas could no longer locate replacement parts or anyone to service the old system, which was launched in 1990 and upgraded in 1998. The first phase was funded with a $752,000 homeland security grant. The KBI is applying for similar grants to pay the balance. All upgrades should be completed by January 2007.
■ The portable devices:
Police place a person’s two index fingers on a screen. Wireless technology sends the image to the database for comparison. Prints scanned in the field will not be stored.
My "poke" at Kansas was meant good naturedly (as I think it was taken). As for the football, I really don't care about college ball at all. I'm a Denver Bronco's fan. Have been for over 34 years. (Now I'll have to duck and cover from all the Husker/K-State/Chiefs fans)
Lived here for 25 years and havent been to any of them. Iv only heard about the drive-in and really want to check it out.
Been to the highest point in Kansas (in Sherman county about as close to Colorado as you can get) and you cant see anymore from the top of that hill than you can from any other.
About what I said the last time I saw the Kansas state line in the rearview mirror, LOL! It's kind of hard to resist a line like that. ;-)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or[f] the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Revelation 13 (New King James Version) biblegateway.com
The amount of tyranny "freedom-loving" Americans are willing to swallow amazes me.
Freeper RoberPaulsen will be all for this.
Only if he thinks it might keep someone from using an intoxicating substance.
Let's ping him and find out.
Ping to RP!
Don't forget the "Agricultural Hall of Fame" with all it's rusted out implements just south of Leavenworth.
Don't forget to ping his trusty sidekick.
You're right.
I see you've got that base covered. Thanks.
I am quite shocked that this one has made it over 50.
I wonder what happens if you refuse to provide your fingerprints. I sure as hell wouldn't provide mine for only being pulled over for a minor traffic violation by a revenuer(aka police officer).
It isn't surprising that Kansas often leads the way in this, and similar, useless and nonsensical follies since the state government and congressional delegation has been captured by religious fundamentalist fanactics noteable for their collective ignorance in the art and science of governing. The harm they've imposed on their state covers the entire spectrum of life will cause the residents for generations. This one is just one of the lesser stupidities at large in the once great state of Kansas.
Ok, a couple of things. First. I agree, this, much like your example of TSA routine, will be focused primary on law abiding types. Those that these systems are supposed to weed out will not bear the brunt of this intrusion, should it go in to widespread application.
Second. Having some experience with law enforcement, I know driving without a license does not automatically equal arrest, far from it.
Third. I was born and raised in Kansas.
How dare they! After all, the Constitution says that fingerprints have to be taken only at the police station. In one of those emanations of a penumbra...
Seig Heil!
I'm glad I'm as old as I am because what this country is becoming truly frightens me.
Godwin's law.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.