Re: Experts Say VIN Problem Bigger Than Y2K!

From: Peter Lacey (lacey_at_mb.sympatico.ca)
Date: 07/03/04 

Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2004 17:51:41 -0500

JerryMouse wrote:
>
> We're running out of VINs and this problem affects not only countless
> computers, but law enforcement, dozens of governmental agencies (in just the
> U.S.!), and many other disciplines.
>
> Yes, the 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) assigned to every
> car, boat, trailer, motorcycle, and Red Ryder Wagon is reaching its maximum
> capacity.
>
> Story at:
> http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0407/01/a01-200548.htm

There's a lesson to be reiterated here, a principle which if not
followed will ALWAYS cause trouble. That is: never make a field carry
more than one meaning. If you do it will always come back and bite
you. This thing is 17 characters long: therefore it allows for a
maximum of 36** 17 combinations (ten digits and 26 letters). I haven't
worked it out but that's about 2**85 or something. But since the thing
has been broken down into meaningful subfields, it is running out of
room.

I have quite a few horror stories about this. "Software Maintenance
News" published some of them.

PL

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