ID Scanners at bars are used first and foremost to help the owner protect their liquor license. The liquor sting operations are monthly testing them with under cover agents who are trained to lull the bar staff into serving them a drink. After the first ticket, many go to http:www.idscanner.com to purchase a scanner. The second reason is kids who use their older brother/friends ID to enter and then when questioned by the police, claim they presented their real license which results in a ticket for the bar owner. After 3 tickets, the liquor license gets revoked, so the owner, looses their business. So the real story is not the big brother angle which of course plays well in the press, the real story is the lengths a business owner has to go to these days to protect their business license. But that story doesn't get readers so the press always looks for the big brother angle.

East River is sadly right. Bars are not government actors--they can ask for it as a precondition to letting you enter their premises. Moreover, there's never been any need for a warrant before a police officer asks you for identification--they can do that whenever they want, without cause.

Whether bar owners can just hand over the info to the authorities is not as certain, but I'm guessing there's probably nothing you can do. However, there would be some serious privacy violation issues if the bar owners sold your infomration to other private companies.

If you don't like the way things are done these days, the only thing you can do, really, is refuse to give the particular bar your business. Or, you can become a regular, and the doorman will stop swiping your card.

This fucking sucks. I think this is probably how they found me on a juvinale case from when I was 17,... all of a sudden at 27 they came to my apt. arrested me threw me in the tombs downtown. said I missed a court date back in 97 and shipped me to Denver with two armed guards. I was there with kids and there moms and pops for smoking weed. A juvinale charge. Good times folks, good times. Not far away we will have barcodes planted in us.

This fucking sucks. I think this is probably how they found me on a juvinale case from when I was 17,... all of a sudden at 27 they came to my apt. arrested me threw me in the tombs downtown. said I missed a court date back in 97 and shipped me to Denver with two armed guards. I was there with kids and there moms and pops for smoking weed. A juvinale charge. Good times folks, good times. Not far away we will have barcodes planted in us.

"Without a warrant?" - West Side Michael moronic comment- When you give your driver's license to someone (anyone!) to prove ID- ther is absolutely NO EXPECTATION of privacy!

There is a reason people like West Side Micahel- actually reside on the 'West Side' -

Hey Slappy,

Bars started carding people more aggressively when juries started handing out enormous verdict awards for negligence to bartenders and bar owners for serving drinks and not stopping patrons from driving. Damn right they are going to card.

As for rights, guess what? You don't have any here. The bar collected the data so they own it. Not you. The cops don't need a warrant if the bar owner willing turns it over upon request. Don't like it? Tell the bar owner you're taking your business elsewhere.

Snoopy,

Yeah I did something wrong.

But just because I did something wrong does not mean I don't have any rights!

Hear that? Fucking Adolf Hitler.

I remember when they started posting assholes at the door checking that everyone who entered a f*cking bar had ID and was 21. It wasn't always like that. There is no really compelling reason for it when you think about it. The bartender can card people if he sees someone who looks underage (like everyplace that sells tobacco). This next step is what was predicted at that juncture. Just sayin.

Nazi's coming for Jews and the police catching a WANTED MURDERER are two different things. Schmaaaaarten up people.

SNOOPY

"If you did no wrong, or intent of doing wrong, what is there to hide?"

FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS

First they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me.

-Pastor Martin Niemöller

Well that's fucking terrifying.

who the fuck gives a shit? the only people who go to clubs are wankers and dipshits anyway who like to wait in lines and pay exorbitant prices for the privilidge of listening to bad 80's music. the bars are only fun if you bring your own women but if you could, why bother?

I saw scanners being used in new england 10 years ago.

this is nothing new. they're not in any violation of rights because bars/clubs are private.

we don't even need to show papers anymore.

your barcode please.

Yeah why not? Since the government is already listening to our phone conversations, why not let them know exactly what bar I'm drunk dialing from...

maybe you just don't want the police to needlessly have your info.

the cops don't make mistakes? they have guns, remember?

If you did no wrong, or intent of doing wrong, what is there to hide?

This is ridiculous.

the new world order

That's friggin whack.

I'd rather live in world where a few 19 year olds are able to get into some shitty club then one where your ID gets scanned everywhere you go. Until these things are mandatory, I might pass on places that have them. It's not like there is a shortage of bars in this city.