FC: Texas police may order all businesses to collect fingerprints

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[From customers who pay by check, that is. But why stop there? Credit card 
fraud is a problem, so it makes sense to extend Operation Thumbs Up to such 
purchases. And even cash can be counterfeit -- why not fingerprint all 
customers, all the time? --Declan]

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From: "Ben" <bmw () carolina rr com>
To: <Declan () well com>
Subject: 'Operation Thumbs Up' in Dallas
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 2002 15:43:11 -0400
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<http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/3976347.htm>http<http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/3976347.htm>://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/3976347.htm 


"Police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said the department is considering 
making the program mandatory."

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<http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/3976347.htm>http<http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/3976347.htm>://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/3976347.htm 


   Police ask stores to take fingerprints
   By SUSAN SCHROCK
   Special to the Star-Telegram

   ARLINGTON - Police are asking businesses to voluntarily participate in
   a program to take customers' fingerprints if they pay by check.

   Operation Thumbs Up, scheduled to begin citywide Sunday, aims to help
   authorities identify check theft and forgery by obtaining a source of
   identification that can't be stolen or faked - fingerprints. The
   system is similar to those used by banks that require fingerprints on
   checks.

   "No longer can we rely on the driver's license as a valid form of
   identity when passing a check," Detective Kyle Gibson said. "We can't
   expect clerks to memorize every face in a line. By getting a print, we
   can place that person when the check was passed to get a successful
   prosecution."

   The program was announced Friday. Police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour
   said the department is considering making the program mandatory.

   [...]




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