Decode Your License

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Using a cool little program I dug up on the web, and a scanner I was able to decode the barcodes on the back of my NY drivers license, and find out what information people get when they scan it. I'm pretty sure that just decoding the barcode is not illegal, but some of the other things I describe probably are, so let those be just proof of concept.

All the times my license (well technically my permit, but its all the same) appears, I mess up the barcodes a bit so (hopefully) no one can get my information. Personally I don't care, but theres probably some good reasons why I should not let it out so I'm just being safe.

Step 1 Materials

Most people probably have this stuff:

1. Scanner
2. License/Permit from any state ( I think there are a few states ids that do not work, but most should)
3. Swipe Barcode Program
4. A Hex converter (more on this later)
5. Photoshop or similar program
6. Optional 1d barcode decoder

Comments

[Dean AAron]

Here's an comprehensive barcode professional website. http://www.onbarcode.com/
It provides barcode solutions for .NET, Java, and Smartphones. Easy and efficient to use, so try them at following web sites. I do believe they are helpful to solve problems.
http://www.onbarcode.com/software/barcode_generator.html
http://www.onbarcode.com/products/net_barcode/
http://www.onbarcode.com/products/java_barcode/

[lil parka]

can someone help me im not that advance as all you seem i would like to know if i decode my az lisence and change some info would it still scan and be on the dmv database? i need help pleaase.

[the1man]

You can edit the code to change your information . I would be happy to help you with this.

[mccrackn]

Hi,
I also need help changing the barcode on my license. Can you help?
Thanks

[Dean AAron]

Try these sites to change the information in your 2D barcode. Just input your information, then generate a barcode and save the image.
http://generator.onbarcode.com/online-qr-code-barcode-generator.aspx
http://generator.onbarcode.com/online-pdf417-barcode-generator.aspx
http://generator.onbarcode.com/online-data-matrix-barcode-generator.aspx

Also, you can use this barcode reader to check your encoded information.
http://www.onbarcode.com/scanner/

[amamedov1]

I have the same problem, I need to figure out how to change the decoded information so that it still comes out right when scanned. Please help

[funni64]

anybody know where to find a 1d/Code 39 barcode decoder?

[Dean AAron]

Hey, this is my favorite barcode decode which provides an awesome linear(Code 39 included) barcode decoder. Try it~
http://www.onbarcode.com/scanner/
More barcode tools are also available here: http://www.onbarcode.com/products/net_barcode/. Hope it is useful.

[techjunkster]

A bit late on this one, but ran across this post when hunting around for barcode related info.

There's an online barcode decoder that decodes 1d as well as driver's licenses. It's pretty easy to use - just upload an image and you get results. Also has an SDK if you want to integrate into your app.
Free Online Barcode Decoder

[PR22]

I second this

[keastes]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/zebra/

when in doubt check sourcefourge

[cpushrod]

Target store clerks will ask you for your driver's license when making certain purchases, such as games rated "M", but then they will scan it without warning you that they intended to do so. Show me where it says it's illegal to prepare a fake ID for the express purpose of preventing theft of your identity by Target. It's only a matter of time before they get broken into like Sony recently was.

[RansomReckon]

You can print directly on a PVC card with an Epson r200 inkjet printer as long as you buy the PVC card tray to use with the printer. I got my (brand new in box) printer at GOODWILL for $10! And the tray I got on EBAY for $20.

I haven't tried your method yet, but, just for fun, I will try.

[ncryder450]

i understand how to decode the license and i have the pdf417 bar code maker, and i have the "raw bytes" do i put the raw bytes info in to the fixed code value? and then tweak the size an wat not...becuase when i do that and then export it is not at all like the original

[ybunnygurl]

if your dieing to know what the code is I can tell you. its a digital copy of your ID. I asked at target when I returned something and they scanned the bars(1D). (I also tried the when i worked at a retail store and had to fill in information in to code boxes... and was shocked to find it worked with almost all of the different states ID's , except for DC's... theirs gave me different stuff, just random numbers. the 2D is a digital image of the front and back of your card.

[Brick-To-Face]

Seems like a waste for all that "[value type] = " stuff to be on there
They could probably save space by having a standard order of values. Then the could fit more fun stuff on there, like "Suspected member of known terrorist group", or, "Kite enthusiast"

[keastes]

>MODE:conspiracy_theorist< or they could just put an unique ID number and require you to "swipe your license to, say, buy food down @ your local grocer and keep track of what you buy >end:mode_Change< welcome to America, God help us.

[SolidSilver]

Just for kicks, I scanned my Maine license and ran it through pdf417decode 2.0 (a Linux package from SourceForge). There's pretty clearly some binary data in the last field, but I don't know the format and there's no recognizable header. Any ideas how to decode it? I think it's a copy of the picture on the license. Also, the Swipe decoder doesn't seem to recognize the Maine fields, as it doesn't show anything in the processed data view.

[idiotjohn]

Excuse me, but what normal person owns a scanner?

[ReCreate]

This(me) normal person

[bikerbob2005]

OMG i'm not normal mama lied
i got my cat for free in the mail years ago
http://www.cexx.org/cuecat.htm

[themasterpyro]

I do, but I'm far from normal.

[tigerboy]

not a barcode scanner,a printer,faxer,scanner kind

[hjjhjhgjjh]

IDK Think That Program works???

[TKDYBBS]

I worked staffing a company that was deploying the new barcode system to a southern state. I was given secure information about the barcodes. You are correct that they do include printed information. However, the barcode also includes an encrypted image file of the photograph that is on the front of the license. The biometrics firm used an existing 2d barcode to create this embedded image. When a picture is taken a biometric readout is created and hypothetically any camera at a stop light, mall, airport or your seven-eleven could then be used as a capture device to help track known or suspected criminals. The biometric firm had plans on selling decoders to hotels, stores, gas stations, etc. in an attempt to help reduce fraud. The companies would have three choices of how to use the product. First it would simply display the decoded image on a screen for visual comparison. This would have been the cheaper solution. The second solution would generate a revenue stream for the state. For a subscription fee the scan could then be sent, via vpn, to a state computer for a triple check. In other words the state would provide a third database copy of the image for comparison to the printed front copy and the decoded copy. It would also provide publicly available information to the company and automatically populate the companies data base with said information. The third option was to combine option number two with a photo taken by the merchant using a web cam and then the image would be biometrically matched with records on file with the state to provide a positive id. The second and the third options provide the state with a number of revenue streams. One from the subscription service, another for the database access and database population and perhaps most importantly it would provide local, state, and federal law enforcement with an ability track individuals with outstanding warrants. The cost of implementation has thus far been cost prohibitive and since 9/11 there has been some fear of the system being misused for the identification of government operatives by terrorist cells within and outside of the United States.

[pushybaby]

Hi, my name is Eugene, I wonder if you could help me. Do you know how much data is encoded on the barcode at the back of a drivers license? As far as I know, it's a PDF-417 Symbology. The reason why I'm asking is that I have a Barcode Scanner that supports the PDF-417 Symbology. I designed such barcode & managed to scan it, but when I scan the one on the drivers license it couldn't pick it up.Could you please help? I have a project to run and I need some advises.

[connielomill]

can you help me too . connie

[Tetranitrate]

Yeah in the instructable I mention the possibility of a compressed image file in the 2d barcode, but I wasn't sure what states, if any, used it.

[martyvonx]

I live in MD and I tried for a long time to get my barcode to decode in that program. I cleaned it up in Photoshop and everything, but it wouldn't work, then I found this program:
http://www.intelcom.ru/download/decode/Decode417Demo.zip
It decoded it without even cropping.

[connielomill]

can you help me change my license. Connie

[chriskarnaze]

Can you recommend any pdf417 encoders that will work with that decoder? I have tried several but can't produce any barcodes that the decoder will decode. It says "BarCode not found" with dimensions -1 x -1. The decoder will decode the bar code on my driver's license, so I'm not sure if the problem is with the encoders I'm using or the way the barcode image is being prepared for the decoder. Thanks

[easyrider1]

i've been carded at grocery and liquor stores before that wanted my license,i told them they could look at it but not scan it because i didn't want my info in their data base and if they had a problem with that i'll shop somewhere else. so far in all my years buying alcohol(i'm 52)nobody has turned me down and i doubt they ever will. it's your license and your information,you decide what happens with it.and be very careful of big brother,those who give up freedom in exchange for safety do not deserve nor will get either.

[Full Frontal Graphic]

Aha,easyrider1, I believe I have deduced your identity. Are you perhaps the first swimming instructor in the United States, an inventor, and a publisher of seditious literature?

[yetiwisdom]

See also how to wipe your ID's magnetic stripe to protect your privacy, a follow-up to an article I wrote regarding the practice of some bars/restaurants running ID's through mag cardreaders to gain entry - then dumping that data into a marketing database for junk-mail: I Am Not a Number, I Am a Free Man!

[themasterpyro]

mine said "nosy little sucker aren't you?"

[yetiwisdom]

Great post - thanks a lot. Like one of the other commenters I couldn't get the swipecode.jar to work but this program did workthis program did work (and I liked that it was install-free too).

Also, those of you that liked this post might want to check this out:
"I Am Not a Number — I Am a Free Man!I Am Not a Number — I Am a Free Man!� - about the scanning of ID's for the purpose of age verification at bars.

[sillymonkey]

I have done everything so far...But I cannot properly use BCDmaker to make a file that can be read by the decoder program. I first of all scanned my license, then opened it up in paintbrush, and selected just the barcode. Then I re-pasted that into new paintbrush document and got rid of outside white edges. Then I scanned it with the Java program that decodes. I got all my info (in the processed category). I then modified it all to what I wanted (dob change) and name change just to see if this program works. Then I copied text and saved it in note pad. I then opened it in BCDmaker and did new template. I then did Various Code Value: Then I imported that text file. It gave me a barcode which was similar to the one on my actual license. I then exported it into a picture file. I then opened that in paintbrush and got rid of the excess white again and pasted it so the pic is just the barcode. When I ran it through scanner, it said it is unrecognizable, and not a valid barcode. What do I need to do to modify this correctly? I have tried some different settings in the template manager, but I don't know what to do. Any help would be great thanks

[garrettmikesmith]

wow, i am having the same problem

[Illusionistx]

it is the license holder's option whether or not their SSN and organ donorabiliity are added on the card this is a cool find though

[kd197]

anyone know where can i get a good id? e-mail me at [e-mail] thanks