ID Scanners at Bars Raise Privacy Questions

Katie Crowther

We’re used to giving personal information about ourselves when there’s a security issue, maybe using a credit card in a store or getting on an airplane. But new technology tracks us in places we may not even know about.

You can now put “going to a bar” on the list. Now when some places check your ID, they’ve got a permanent record of your information. The next time you request a table or order a round, the bartender might know your age, height, and eye color before you even make eye contact. That’s thanks to new scanning equipment that’s becoming mainstream. Rockford’s Silver Lounge uses scanners to uncover the underage. General Manager Addison Jun says, “It’s just pretty much this little scanner that’s meant to scan drivers licenses, business cards and it just kind of helps keep track of everybody.”

Bar-goers have mixed feelings about being cyber-carded and having their personal information saved in a database. One told 13 News, “It makes me pretty uncomfortable. You don’t know who’s working behind the door.” Billy Cook from Roscoe says, “I feel like it’s an invasion of privacy if they find out where you live. You never know where that info is going to go.”

But Jun says they do it for a good reason. “If it’s a fake, it lets us know that it’s not a valid ID. Security is a huge, huge issue in the nightlife business.”

But local security experts say don’t underestimate the old-fashioned role of the bouncer. Merchants Police Director Larry Hodges says, “It says here she’s 5′11″. The girl that produced the ID was only 5′5″. It says she’s 160 pounds, the girl that produced the ID was 125. So the machine doesn’t catch that. But the person does.” Cook says, “The established places that have good security will hopefully use it in the right manner and not abuse it.”

But bar owners also use it as a marketing tool. Because the scanner saves your address, they can then send out information about special events or upcoming promotions.

They can only see and save what’s on the front of your license, including your address and picture. But they do not have access to a person’s criminal record, health information or credit background.

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