ID Scanner for Bars
I saw this in the news the other day and while I think Earth Hour is a great development for our country, I’m not so sure about this latest development in Australia. ID Scanners at Pubs! Give me a break. I don’t want to have my drivers license scanned to purchase a pint. See article below but I suggest we rally against this in our country.
Tough pub ID scheme a success
Source: http://southern-times-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/yes-we-scan/
SCAN WE FIX IT?: Victoria Hotel manager Nick Rogers at the recently introduced scanner which helps identify troublemakers. Pic: Cathy Mundy.
A HARDLINE pub ID scheme in which patrons have their drivers’ licences scanned upon entry has netted 10 troublemakers in the past two months.
The Victoria Hotel at O’Halloran Hill introduced blanket scanning technology two months ago to record the names and addresses of the about 1100 patrons it attracts on Friday nights.
In the event of trouble, culprits can be identified from video surveillance that is matched with the time their ID was scanned.
Hotel manager Nick Rogers said 10 incidents had been reported to police – mainly assaults – since January.
A further 24 patrons had been barred for disorderly behavior.
Mr Rogers said the scanner system had led to “a reduction in anti-social behavior and it’s acted as a deterrent”.
“Security can only handle so much and if you’ve got these guys’ information then the police can actually do something about it.”
He said the scanner had been used to record late night arrivals for three years, but the hotel recently started scanning everyone entering after 9pm.
Personal details are stored on the hotel’s hard drive for four to six weeks.
The system, which costs $3000-$5000, was also a deterrent for underage clubbers attempting to use fake IDs, Mr Rogers said.
South Coast Acting Superintendent Dennis Lock said scanning ID cards was a pro-active step in combating misbehavior.
“Patrons should be aware there is far less likely to be trouble in such a premises when offenders can be readily identified,” he said.
“If people don’t wish to have their ID scanned or photo taken, then don’t enter.”
Australian Hotels Association SA general manager Ian Horne said he knew of about “two dozen” pubs and clubs across Adelaide using ID scanners or fingerprint, eye and facial recognition systems.
Mandy Smith, 24, of Glenelg, made a recent visit to the Vic and said scanning ID was “extreme”, but it made her feel safer.
“If someone caused real damage to property or other patrons I’d hate to think they’d get away with it,” she said.
Other hoteliers were reluctant to embrace the technology.
Independent Pub Group chief executive Greg Maitland, who manages the Seaford Tavern, Emu Hotel and Christies Beach Hotel, said: “We see this as an absolute intrusion on people’s privacy. In our opinion it basically assumes everyone is potentially a criminal.”
Council for Civil Liberties SA spokesman Allan Perry said as long as there were safeguards to protect patrons’ personal information the practice was unlikely to constitute an invasion of privacy.
ID ISSUES
About 24 licensed venues across Adelaide record patrons’ ID on entry
Some pubs and clubs use ID scanner systems coupled with video surveillance
Others use fingerprint, eye or facial recognition technology to record personal details.
Systems can cost between $3000 and $10,000.
Venues with ID systems include:
Red Square, Hindley St
The Alma Tavern, Norwood
The Grand Bar, Glenelg
Victoria Hotel, O’Halloran Hill.
Only legitimate forms of ID such as a driver’s licence, proof of age card or passport are accepted. First go to ID Scanner to scan your ID, then go to bar to order pint.