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Barcode on CHL

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 1:39 pm
by Scott B.
I was hoping to speed along some FFL related data entry, but the barcode on the back of the CHL (above the magnetic stripe) is not the CHL license number, nor a DL number, any idea what it is?

It's a simple Code 128 barcode, nothing like the PDF417 code on the drivers license (you ought to think twice about letting stores scan that sucker). In comparison, the Code 128 barcode (again, above the magnetic stripe) on the DL does contain your DL number and a second number which looks to be the date of issue and a bit more.

I know the info is on the magnetic stripe, but I don't want to use multiple readers.

Re: Barcode on CHL

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 1:44 pm
by suthdj
Scott B. wrote:I was hoping to speed along some FFL related data entry, but the barcode on the back of the CHL (above the magnetic stripe) is not the CHL license number, nor a DL number, any idea what it is?

It's a simple Code 128 barcode, nothing like the PDF417 code on the drivers license (you ought to think twice about letting stores scan that sucker). In comparison, the Code 128 barcode (again, above the magnetic stripe) on the DL does contain your DL number and a second number which looks to be the date of issue and a bit more.

I know the info is on the magnetic stripe, but I don't want to use multiple readers.
Try OCR Of the actual number on the front.

Re: Barcode on CHL

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:43 pm
by lfinsr
I scanned mine and the first 8 characters match the number on the upper left of the picture with a zero pre-pended. I have no idea what the remaining 12 digits are though. They don't seem to match anything else on the license nor make any sense in any other respect.

Re: Barcode on CHL

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 5:49 pm
by Scott B.
Might simply be a file number for the driver's license photo they pull for the CHL, good catch.