Speeding? Spit please....

[James Deuce]

I completely agree with you.

I cannot believe anybody would voluntarily give a DNA swab in such a situation. It is the ultimate invasion of privacy. The potential ethical issues and social implications of a DNA database haven't even begun to be assessed or discussed yet.

And they won't be discussed either. Enough people will refuse to do this on the roadside that the law will be changed to compel you to give a DNA sample.

A big chunk of NZ will have no issue wth this because they've never ever had personal freedoms removed in a wholesale fashion by a neighbouring country or a NZ Government. So it can't happen here. Obviously. I really wish people would wake up the the overiding principal of any organisation. The depersonalisation of the individual by sunsuming them into a collective noun. It's much easier to announce that you are retrenching a thrid of your workforce than to anounce that Trevor Sinclair witha dependant wife, 4 children and a large mortgage will be leaving us first, followed by Mary Abelson, with 30 years service in the same department and never a bad word said about her.

Police policy can be said to be targetting a demographic. In this case it will be middle-class, middle to high income earners with no previous criminal history, and therefore no really useful dirt stored on them in a central database anywhere.

They reason they are doing it is because soon when you travel overseas you will have your nice little "biometric" passport and will be required to give up a DNA sample and a retinal scan to get it. There's a ready made database for the Police to use to catch those speeding, millionaire, international drug smugglers.

[Big Dave]

I'll happily supply a DNA sample for a specific reason - like those rapes in country NSW - all the town gave a sample and the caught him.

If it's voluntary and 'just in case' then they can get fucked.

[spudchucka]

The national DNA database is a powerfull anti crime / crime fighting tool. Increasing the the number of samples that are in the database increases the accuracy of the science and enhances the compelling nature of the evidence. Thats why the cops are always looking to obtain voluntary samples.

New techniques for gathering DNA are being developed. Low Copy Number or LCN DNA enables a DNA sample to be obtained from minute trace amounts of DNA, such as vapour expelled when a person coughs or sneezes.

This will have a huge impact on the way police manage crime scenes but may also open up oppurtunities to gather voluntary DNA samples. I'm not aware of any measures to canvass road users for voluntary samples but with LCN DNA a sample of spit might be quite sufficient to obtain a sample, whereas at the moment a bucal scrape is required.

[Pixie]

What next?Stool samples?

[spudchucka]

I can see it now;

No driver I said "spit", not "shit"!

[Aitch]

Or to clear you, Many people have been cleared on DNA aswell>

In which case the supply of DNA should be voluntary UNLESS the cops have compelling evidence that would convince a judge to issue a warrant. Just like a search warrant. We are entitled to the presumption of innocence, and must not be compelled to prove our innocence.

[WINJA]

IF THEY WANT A DNA SAMPLE FROM ME ILL JUST GIVE THEM THE BAG IN MY VAN FULL OF STICKY TISSUES

[spudchucka]

In NZ DNA is collected on a voluntary basis for the national data bank. Persons convicted of specified offences can be compelled to give a sample for the data bank.

There is also a suspectcs data bank that allows for samples to be collected from suspects and persons of interest for the purpose of comparing their DNA with specific crime scene DNA. Specifically for the purpose of elimination. These samples aren't stored on any national data bank once they have been processed in relation to the matter at hand.

Persons of interest who refuse to give a suspect sample will of course become somewhat more interesting to police than people you willingly supply a sample.

[spudchucka]

Go to legislation.co.nz and look up the Crime Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 if you want to read through the relevant law.

The ESR site is worth a look too if anyone is actually interested in knowing the facts.

http://www.esr.cri.nz/competencies/f...NAdatabank.htm

[miSTa]

Noooooo, too much useful information, would rather stay ill-informed.

[Waylander]

I'm just waiting for the time when a cop asks someone for a saliva sample and the person spits in thier face.

Unless you have a court order, warrent or whatever the official paper is here you get nothing from me.

[SPORK]

Wait, so how much is it for a plane ticket to Fiji?

[sAsLEX]

if they need DNA to ID my body.. i have a washcloth next to my bed they are welcome to test..

thats why you get tags issued isn't it! not that I ever wear mine

[Eurodave]

thats why you get tags issued isn't it! not that I ever wear mine

Nah, me neither [ex RNZAF SGT.]

[MacD]

The ESR site is worth a look too if anyone is actually interested in knowing the facts.

The facts are not the issue. DNA identification is a useful tool for the Police just as taking fingerprints was found to be.

The issue is in that DNA is a genetic blueprint for an individual and contains information far beyond simple identity.

It's very easy to say the information is secure or will only be used for criminal identification purposes. However such reassurances are naive in my opinion. Security is only ever as good as the user behind the keyboard. The pressure to share this information with other agencies will be tremendous in the long run, as has occurred for other forms of individual information previously collected.

Just because something is a good technology doesn't mean it is a good idea.