How good do my finger prints have to be?

[proud2deviate]

I'm going to apply for a non-resident CCW in Florida, which means I'll have to send them a set of prints. The problem is, I like to work with my hands, so at any given time my fingers are pretty torn up. I have peeling callouses, cuts, scrapes and whatnot. Right now, the tip of my right thumb is pretty much worn smooth from loading mags and sanding parts.

Would this cause any problems for me? I doubt they expect perfect, pristine prints, but how good is good enough?

 

[kd7nqb]

If you can see a fingerprint pattern its good enough. Also whoever does your prints should know if they are good enough. Many times the use of a little oil or lotion is helpful.

 

[rocinante]

Friend that is a cool question. Seems to me they ask for fingerprints, you comply and they have to take what they can get. I totally agree not everyone has silky smooth pampered hands. A guitarist has hard callouses right on his fingertips even. Humm never thought if it but as odd as it seems could that be a factor in why chicks dig them. Okay I got insomnia.

Post again to this thread how it turns out. I am curious.

 

[Winchester 73]

How good do my finger prints have to be?

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I'm going to apply for a non-resident CCW in Florida, which means I'll have to send them a set of prints. The problem is, I like to work with my hands, so at any given time my fingers are pretty torn up. I have peeling callouses, cuts, scrapes and whatnot. Right now, the tip of my right thumb is pretty much worn smooth from loading mags and sanding parts.

Would this cause any problems for me? I doubt they expect perfect, pristine prints, but how good is good enough?

From my experience you should sail through.
Let us know.

 

[Valkman]

and they have to take what they can get

Not really - I just went though this the other day and if they can't get fingerprints with the electronic machine then they have to go to ink. It costs more ($11 here) and slows down the whole approval process. If the FBI doesn't get good prints you'll never be approved, but you probably have enough.

 

[beachjumper]

I would not worry about it proud2. If I remember correctly, each finger has about 100 "points of comparasion". I have tried cases in Florida where the state was allowed to present expert testimony using only 12 points of comparasion to match crime scene prints to my client.
I'm sure all Florida criminal defense attorneys would be interested in talking you if your application was denied.

 

[publius]

I took one of those FL CWP permit classes at a gun show, and they printed me for the application. That set of prints bounced back, though it looked pretty good to me. I had to go to the sheriff's office and get printed again. That set was accepted.

My brother makes pottery, and if he has been actively throwing pots, his fingerprints wear off! His fingers are almost completely smooth, and almost impossible to fingerprint. It has caused some delays in the past for him as well.

 

[N3HCP]

When I got my Florida permit, I sent them what looked to me like a good set of prints (also taken at a gun show...this should tell us something). After about 2 months I got another fingerprint card in the mail with a letter telling me the FBI rejected the card as unreadable. I had to have new prints taken and send them in. Go figure!

 

[ilbob]

I used to print people for security guard IDs.

About 1 in 10 came back as unusable. Often I could not tell why.

 

[Guitargod1985]

When I was printed I was doing commercial electrical work at the time and I also play the guitar on the regular. My fingers had cuts, calluses, you name it - but my prints turned out okay. They did use the electronic method, though.

 

[brighamr]

I'm missing half of my right thumb print (cut off when working with glass), and have a slice into my left thub (box cutter). My prints work fine thus far.

I don't think you'll have any problems.

 

[proud2deviate]

I got printed today. The officer was very polite and professional. I got two sets of prints, no charge (wasn't expecting that.) He said that they looked pretty good and should go through fine.

I need to go out tomorrow and drum up a notary, and after that I should be ready to send my application in. I'll let y'all know how it goes within 90 days.

 

[MarkDido]

I took one of those FL CWP permit classes at a gun show, and they printed me for the application. That set of prints bounced back, though it looked pretty good to me. I had to go to the sheriff's office and get printed again. That set was accepted.

The impressions on the print card may have looked good, but if they were not rolled properly, no matter how "sharp" the print was, it will probably get rejected.

The print, whether inked or livescanned, must be rolled from the edge(side) of the nail to the other edge to sure that the print's delta(s) and core is visable



This is a standard loop. The "core" is roughly the cener of the pattern. The "delta" is that point where the type lines bifurcate (split) and flow around the center of the pattern.



This is a whorl. Notice that there are two "deltas" If the person taking the prints doesn't roll it correctly, one or both deltas may be missing.

Not a big deal if you only have a couple whorls in all 10 of your fingers, but about 30% of the population is ALL whorls, so dropping deltas off a bunch of your fingers will usually get the print rejected by the controlling authority. In Florida, that's the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement"

Thus endeth "Fingerprinting 101" and yes, I do this for a living

 

[yhtomit]

It depends on context, but I know my mom had a lot of trouble becoming a substitute teacher in PA (despite being a saint, a retired doctor, etc) because her prints ... don't. She has basically no fingerprints; I don't know if this is from chemicals in college chemistry / med school, from wearing surgical gloves, or plain genetics (I sure didn't inherit it, or the smarts -- too bad!), but her prints are just about unreadable. LiveScan, conventional prints, doesn't seem to matter.

However, for CCW purposes, I sure hope that as long as what you sent is an accurate representation of your fingers, that you get the permit.

timothy

p.s. If it sounds like I think hamfisted bureaucratic idiots dominate this as well as nearly every other government school system, well, you have passed this small literacy test.

 

[Tim Burke]

About half the time when I get inked the prints are rejected (~3 of ~6). I've never had a set obtained electronically (0 of ~4) get rejected.

 

[MD_Willington]

The Spokane WA immigration office where they do "biometrics" has this stuff called "Corn Huskers Oil" you can get it at a pharmacy, you use it as hand lotion.

I've had to use it before for my immigration finger prints.

 

[proud2deviate]

My application's in the mail, folks. Start the clock . . . now, and wish me luck!