In the US, biometrics manufacturer Identix reports it has received a purchase order from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) with a value in excess of $1.8 million for Identix hand and ten-print TouchPrint 3000 line of live scan systems.
The TouchPrint systems will be deployed at PSP offices throughout the State to assist Pennsylvania in meeting the requirements of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the US Patriot Act to conduct focused background checks, including fingerprint-based biometric criminal history checks, of all commercial drivers who apply for, renew or transfer an endorsement to transport hazardous materials (HAZMAT), including explosives. PSP will also use the Identix systems for routine criminal bookings.
In one of the its first major non-aviation regulations in response to the requirements laid out in the US Patriot Act, the TSA is requiring all truck drivers who want HAZMAT endorsements to undergo background checks that include the submission of fingerprint biometrics. Up to 3.5 million or more current truck drivers and applicants are expected to be required to undergo background checks, with an estimated additional hundreds of thousands of new and renewal HAZMAT endorsement applicants requiring screening on an annual basis. The plan requires conducting fingerprint-based criminal history background checks beginning no later than January 31, 2005, plus name-based terrorist focused background checks and an immigration check to determine whether any present a potential terrorist threat. TSA will notify the States of the results of the background checks and states will either issue or deny HAZMAT endorsement based on that information. TSA developed this plan to protect against the threat posed by terrorists transporting HAZMAT, and to maximize flexibility for the states so the issuance of HAZMAT endorsements is not impeded by security requirements. TSA has provided all States with the choice of participating in a nationwide TSA-sponsored program (still to be implemented), or to implement their own statewide programs.
PSP Major John K Thierwechter, Director of the Bureau of Records and Identification, said: "We are very proud to be among the first States in the Nation to begin preparing to implement the requirements by the TSA for fingerprint-based biometric background checks for HAZMAT drivers and applicants. As with our other Statewide deployments utilising fingerprint biometrics, the quality of the image capture is of utmost importance to us since our ability to properly identify an individual can often come down to the smallest details of the fingerprint minutiae. Based on our experience with Identix’ TouchPrint systems and the image quality produced, as well as the ease of use of the systems, the selection of Identix to meet our Statewide biometric HAZMAT requirements was an easy choice."
