Smart Cards In Mexico

Mexico has accepted its first smart card driver licenses, which will act as a reliable ID document, but it also opens up the potential for additional e-schemes, like healthcare. The cool thing about this driver license is that is will securely store driver information, and it is difficult to copy or counterfeit.

Mexico bought the cards from Gemalto, and expects to take delivery of 900,000 driver licenses over a period of three years. The license is a chip-based document that shows that a specific person is entitled to drive a certain category of vehicle. The ID card has a microprocessor that securely stores a high-resolution image of the cardholder, his or her blood type, as well as the driver’s credentials to enable digital signature.

The ID card also contains a history of that driver’s fines, allowing transit authorities to monitor drivers’ behavior on the roads. In the future, it could be used for insurance companies to calculate policy costs. A fingerprint and facial image of the driver are encoded in the card body.

For a policeman on the street, a handheld terminal would be used to read the microprocessor, also showing on screen the digitalized picture stored on the chip. This enables transit authorities the ability to view fines and sanctions that apply to the driver and not the vehicle.

The ID card appears to be an efficient tool for public safety, allowing authorities to collect and share information about drivers with other public Mexican institutions. What makes it work is the ability to compare fingerprint and photos with the Justice Department.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

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