Photo ID swiping at clubs

[Ruciz]

I just got back from a local club (which was pretty packed), but before I got in the bouncer visually checked my photo ID and swiped it into a PDA (Thats all I know, no clue if the info was saved or what exactly it was scanned for), and then as soon as I got in I was being pat-searched, without notice, but my girlfriend who was with me didn't get searched at all (her ID was swiped into the PDA though). Just wondering if anyone else had a similar happening, or what you all think of this.

I had no notice at all of any of this, The bouncers never told me he was going to swipe my ID or search me (2 seperate bouncers) I just feel that a little bit of notice to the happenings would have been nice. I know they want to keep out underage drinkers and crazy drunks who want to go on a shooting rampage but I think this is gone a little far. what are your thoughts?

[Colin-uk Veteran]

ive never had my ID swiped before, but i always get asked for it

maybe there just doing it for statistics, just to see how many of what age of people come to the club

(if that made sense)

[NoneAvail]

cool

ive been only tto teen night clubs

[zivan56]

Most clubs usually only search guys...

[Adster]

Depending on which state you're from, your age is encoded into a magnetic strip on your ID. It make designing a Fake ID much harder when you not only have to make it visually correct, but also digitally.

[mattmatik]

I'm guessing it's either to track statistics so that the club ownership/administration can keep things fresh and up-to-date...but I'm willing to bet it's more for the club to keep a record of who is there.

The first thing I think of is those clubs that had fires and people died or got seriously injured. This way, the club can give the authorities a record of who is there at the time and possibly even notify families, if need be. As far as I know, when you scan an ID (if this is a driver's license), they will have all of your personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.), and this can only be done by legal authorities, and in this case, probably the police.

Or maybe they just want to send out a mailer ;)

[mattmatik]

Depending on which state you're from, your age is encoded into a magnetic strip on your ID. It make designing a Fake ID much harder when you not only have to make it visually correct, but also digitally.

585718366[/snapback]

(Y) That makes alot more logical sense than my idea.

[Ruciz]

I'm guessing it's either to track statistics so that the club ownership/administration can keep things fresh and up-to-date...but I'm willing to bet it's more for the club to keep a record of who is there.

The first thing I think of is those clubs that had fires and people died or got seriously injured. This way, the club can give the authorities a record of who is there at the time and possibly even notify families, if need be. As far as I know, when you scan an ID (if this is a driver's license), they will have all of your personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.), and this can only be done by legal authorities, and in this case, probably the police.

Or maybe they just want to send out a mailer wink.gif

This could be true, but they don't scan you when you leave, meaning the data would be invalid on who was there at the time.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Agreed that they only seem to search guys. But this ties in with the FACT that a lot of clubs operate a "We didn't see it" policy towards drugs. As long as the girls know the bouncers and sly them a freebie, they don't care.

Same with underage girls, ALWAYS full of em. Lads? No chance!

[redFX]

What kind of ID was this? drivers license?

Searching I don't mind since its usually rooteen stuff. But the swipping of your ID, I'm paranoid and I wouldn't like that. Are they tracking you or something? Where's that data going, who's going to see it, etc.

[DrunkenMaster]

Just call the club manager and ask polietly. I'm sure they would be forthcoming with the information. Last thing, I'm sure they want is to have rumours about why they're doing it. Heck, just ask the bouncer next time.

If you're not happy with the answer, approach the BBB or inquire to the local police.

[kylejn]

I don't go to clubs, but if I did, I'd be pretty wary of having my ID swiped to get in. Maybe if there was a club-only ID (like a membership card), then that'd be OK, but swiping, say, my driver's license is just sorta Orwellian.

[Qumahlin]

What kind of ID was this? drivers license?

Searching I don't mind since its usually rooteen stuff.  But the swipping of your ID, I'm paranoid and I wouldn't like that. Are they tracking you or something?  Where's that data going, who's going to see it, etc.

586626571[/snapback]

All the information that you can read on the front of the license, is also encoded onto the magnetic strip.

It is 100% legal for them to scan the ID.

At some of the local bars here due to me living in a college town if your ID does not swipe you are not allowed entry. It doesn't matter if the ID won't swipe merely because it''s dirty, or got sat next to a magnet. No swipe = No entry.

[Chris Allen Veteran]

Big clubs (1000+ people) I'm always searched unless I'm going in with my DJ gear. Swiping the card happens sometimes but it's usually too long of a wait to get results to validate the card so they don't bother.

Pat downs are mandatory at major clubs. The majority of the time it's usually a girl though so I could care less. Just smile and be on your way. Many a time have I been groped but oh well, I just smile and say "Hey, this searching thing is fun. I should have tried this with my g'fs in high school... never got this far with them ;)"

[endemic]

It's for age verification and demographic surveying. One hundred percent accurate and completely unobtrusive. No need to be staring at a "supposedly" fake idea for five minutes. Just grab, scan, and check. The search once you were in is kinda out of wack, though. As far as I know, no data is actually saved because that would be pretty pointless. It's not like the bouncers are gonna remember your face. The clun owners just want to know the ages and male:female ratio. Think nothing of it.

[Khaz]

They do this at the bars in Edmonton now as well.

But here, the bars are in a partnership with Edmonton City Police, and they are using the data especially to help dissuade known gang members from frequenting busy places.

it's questionable (how secure the terminals are) but the scanners are good for keeping underagers out and probably gives the club/bar an insurance discount as well :p

spot checks are also quite common - guys are always checked, girls purses are wanded and sometimes opened and checked in a small window beside the coat check by a female worker.

it's all in the name of good fun

i'd rather not get shanked at a bar.

[acertim]

It's done here In Nyc also at a few lounges I go to. Next time I am there I'll talk to the bouncer and see what he knows and what he's willing to tell me. I always wondered on whether or not it stored the information scanned, but it's really huge, so I am sure they can fit some type of memory, flash or hdd based in there, should they want to. I am not sure though, not sure also of if and when this became legal, but what type of intrusive checks aren't these days?

[Echilon]

What kind of ID was this? drivers license?

Searching I don't mind since its usually rooteen stuff.  But the swipping of your ID, I'm paranoid and I wouldn't like that. Are they tracking you or something?  Where's that data going, who's going to see it, etc.

586626571[/snapback]

If you've done nothing wrong, then who cares. What are they going to do with it? They're not going to be able to drain your bank account, or hunt you down unless you've got something to hide.

[Ruciz]

All the information that you can read on the front of the license, is also encoded onto the magnetic strip.

It is 100% legal for them to scan the ID.

At some of the local bars here due to me living in a college town if your ID does not swipe you are not allowed entry.  It doesn't matter if the ID won't swipe merely because it''s dirty, or got sat next to a magnet.  No swipe = No entry.

586627480[/snapback]

Same here.. are we in the same place? lol. I went out and my friend who just landed here from China not too long ago with a government ID wasn't allowed entry, they claimed they had "a stack full of fake ones" downstairs, but I wonder how they deduced that, considering they couldn't 'verify' with the magstripe.

[CirocBoy]

I just got back from a local club (which was pretty packed), but before I got in the bouncer visually checked my photo ID and swiped it into a PDA (Thats all I know, no clue if the info was saved or what exactly it was scanned for), and then as soon as I got in I was being pat-searched, without notice, but my girlfriend who was with me didn't get searched at all (her ID was swiped into the PDA though). Just wondering if anyone else had a similar happening, or what you all think of this.

I had no notice at all of any of this, The bouncers never told me he was going to swipe my ID or search me (2 seperate bouncers) I just feel that a little bit of notice to the happenings would have been nice. I know they want to keep out underage drinkers and crazy drunks who want to go on a shooting rampage but I think this is gone a little far. what are your thoughts?

I do security at some bars and clubs in toronto, and I have used one of those scanners. It's pretty cool, and some of them do actually save the information on it. You can actually link it to your computer. The one I used could tell your name, address, height, weight, eye and hair color, and when your card expires, also the one I used if you would swipe your bank card it will show your complete account number. By the way if there was 2 male bouncers they can't pat down a girl. They want but can't it's a law suit

[NeoNut]

Holy bump batman. I knew there was something fishy when the OP mentioned PDA. Hadn't seen that term in a while :p

[scumdogmillionaire]

That's an incredible bump!

I'm a software developer that utilizes the magnetic strip data from licenses into my software. It contains pretty much everything on your license, name, address, gender, license number, height, weight, birthday, exp date. No picture is stored there or on the 2D barcodes that some states have.

[Raa]

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

I had my ID scanned at a club once in Sydney, I think it's just to keep track of offenders.

[Rohdekill]

I forgot what cop show I was watching - probably "The First 48". Anyhow, it involved a shooting outside a club. The club swipes every ID and a camera films the person. Using that info, they can follow the person throughout the club and know when they departed. The show revealed three other patrons arguing with the victim. One by one, they traced the recording back to when each of the three arrived and collected their names and addresses. A pretty slick system.