No Thumbprint, No Rental Car

Wired News ^ | 11/21/01 | Julia Scheeres

[Fred Mertz]

You forgot that you already gave that info to the agent to rent the car Fred.

In my case, I didn't rent the car, but my girlfriend did. I signed on as the additional/primary driver and showed them my driver's license. They asked for a credit card on me, which I thought was odd, since I wasn't paying for the rental card. I, the polite sheeple, provided my credit card to them.

But when the clerk asked for my thumbprint, I asked her why she needed that, and like a good FReeper I refused to provide such private information to them.

The clerk at the desk was cool and said, "That's okay sir, we'll just remove you from the additional driver position."

I said, "Fine with me."

I didn't provide my thumbprint or my SSN mr. smartie pants.

[Fred Mertz]

Jack, would you mail me your thumbprint? It's for nothing in particular. I'll pay postage and ink costs; plus, I'll buy you a beer.

What do you say?

[Cold Heat]

I'll bet you drove the car anyway! LOL!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The problem I have is not so much that Dollar is collecting thumbprints but that they hang onto them for seven years. What if a future president/administration wishes to collect biometric data from such companies? What would they want to do with them?

[Fred Mertz]

I'll bet you drove the car anyway! LOL!

Of course I did. But I did make my girlfriend drive it through the check-out gate and a quarter mile away. You know, those video cameras and all.

I drove all weekend (the gentleman in me) and didn't get a scratch.

[Jean S]

If all this bothers you then I suggest you hide in your house and become a recluse.

Is that my only choice? Are you saying I shouldn't voice my concern about this?

[Cold Heat]

I would much rather give a thumb print which divulges nothing but my true identity then have a transmitter attached to the car that monitors my speed and location. Chances are they will do both now that terrorists rented cars all over the U.S without so much as a blink. McVey rented a U-haul and the latest rental truck scare has all these rental companies trying to mitigate future losses. It seems to be a natual reaction to circumstances and not a government plot.

[Cold Heat]

I did not say that. I just don't understand the paranoia about lousey fingerprints.

[Fred Mertz]

It's too bad you don't see the ramifications, wirestripper.

Sheep like you make it difficult for the rest of us to proclaim we have liberty and freedom.

We don't. At least not in this country.

[Jean S]

Yes you did.

#53

[Ole Okie]

I don't recall the right to not be fingerprinted mentioned. Go to any mall and see the lines at fingerprint stations for child ID.

Well, it's true that for quite some time, you'll submit a fingerprint to get a check cashed at a lot of banks.

I had a negative reaction and complained when the Navy started to fingerprint me in the early 1940's as part of my enlistment. That's when they 'splained the plan to me.

Since then I have had a feeling of indifference when somebody wants to see my driver's license or wants a fingerprint to cash a check.

[Cold Heat]

Perhaps if you looked at it this way. A thumb print is like a signature. I'm sure you don't mind signing a document. A print signature is nearly impossible to falsify. The only thing better would be DNA. It only says you are who you are.

[Cold Heat]

Yah Okie, I think people who have not been printed before have a unexplainable fear of the process. Kinda like taking someones picture and having them tell you that you must destroy the film or my life will be changed. I give up!

[Fred Mertz]

Tell us about the plan, Ole Okie.

[Cold Heat]

Jean I did not try to stop your argument. Heck, I love to argue! I just implied that living life today is getting increasingly difficult without proving who you are at almost every institition. Not doing this would then make a automatic recluse of anyone. Sure, I get ticked when the bank that I have done business with for 12 years asked me for ID. But I understand why.

[paul51]

One of these days, a disgruntled traveler is going to give them a stool sample.

[Cold Heat]

I can tell you what they told me Fred. "Fork over those fingers boy or I'll cut them off!"

[womanvet]

people who have nothing to hide usually don't mind.

I have nothing to hide, AND I HAVE NOTHING WRONG

So, why the firetruck do you want my thumbprint? Have we changed from "innocent until proven guilty" to "always a suspect under any and all conditions"? You bet I mind!

SO, NO! YOU CAN NOT HAVE MY EFFING FINGERPRINTS, BUT YOU CAN KISS MY @SS!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Methinks we should beat them at their own game - any Freepers out there who are double amputees and thus don't have any thumb/fingerprints to give them?

I wonder if a pee-pee print would be an acceptable substitute in such a case. Imagine the reaction of a future surveillance agent coming across one of those! :-)

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

It seems to be a natual reaction to circumstances and not a government plot.

I never said it was a plot. However, I would also prefer the thumbprint over location monitoring; but hopefully, I won't have to submit to either one.