Liquor Store ID Scanner: Safeguard or Invasion of Privacy?
KBCI 2 | August 10 2005
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2005/100805idscanner.htm
Boise - An identification scanning device used in Idaho's 54 state-run
liquor stores since Spring 2004 is meant to ensure driver licenses are
valid, but it also has some concerned about privacy issues. One watchdog
group has dubbed the machine 'Big Brother' on its web site.
The device looks and works like a credit card machine, and reads bar codes
and magnetic strips on the back of driver licenses to make sure information
matches the front of the card.
"It's there to protect the public and to protect ourselves as well," said
Idaho Liquor Dispensary Chief Financial Officer Ken Winkler.
The dispensary says the scanner can only bring up basic information,
including: a person's name, card issue date, expiration date, ID number,
and age-- nothing else.
"It's a secure system. They tell me that you have to have a subpoena for
anyone to get that information. It's not sold. It's not shared with
anybody, and it does not track buying habits. Some people are concerned
about that too," Winkler said.
Winkler says the software database they're using is updated every several
weeks by a private company owned by First Data Corporation, which obtains
the information from participating DMVs around the country.
Local 2 News checked with the Dept. of Motor Vehicles to find out how a
private company obtains driver information from the Idaho DMV, and to find
out whether that's a violation of the state's driver privacy protection act.
An ITD spokesperson responded by saying that law doesn't apply to this
scanner, because the device only confirms whether information on the front
of a driver's license matches the magnetic strip or bar code on the back.
While there's no way to measure how well the scanner has worked since its
implementation last year, Winkler says the big idea is to prevent minors
from even trying to get their hands on alcohol using fake identification.
Winkler says there are about 102 non-state owned liquor stores in Idaho
that are encouraged, but not required to use the scanning device.
Research by Mothers Against Drunk Driving shows between 40 to 90 percent of
outlets sell to underage buyers.
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