Bars aren't embracing ID scanners

An 18-year-old IU freshman walks into a bar. The punchline: The bouncer admits the freshman after checking his fake ID, which suggests he is 22 years old. This scenario, however, is no joke, as proven by the 68 minor citations the Indiana State Excise Police issued early Friday at Axis Nightclub.\nDespite developing technology in spotting fake IDs, Bloomington businesses selling age-sensitive products such as alcohol are hesitant to invest in verification devices or scanners because they have found them ineffective and far too costly. Bloomington Police Department Capt. Mike Diekhoff said he believes there are currently no Bloomington businesses selling alcohol that have these scanners.\nDelaware-based TokenWorks Inc. is one of the leading developers of this technology. They manufacture the CardVisor ID Scanner for use "before selling age sensitive products such as alcohol and tobacco," according to the TokenWorks Web site.\nThe CardVisor ID Scanner works by scanning driver's licenses with magnetic strips and 2D bar codes. Accounting for a periodic service charge for technological updates, this technology could cost businesses anywhere from $395 to $1,325, depending on a wide range of software options.\nDepending on the features purchased, the CardVisor can perform any or all of the following functions: extract names and addresses, put together VIP and banned lists, catalog appended notes, run on lithium batteries and prevent pass-backs (when multiple people use the same valid ID to enter illegally). \nAn alternative to the CardVisor, the IDLogix C100, produced by Arizona-based manufacturer Primary Payment Systems, shows bouncers several messages when they scan IDs. "Valid Format, ID Expired, ID May Be Falsified, Under 21, Under 18 and Unknown Card" are the various messages the machine displays, according to its Web site. \n"We've tested them," said Big Red Liquors Inc. Chief Operating Officer Wade Shanower. "They rarely catch something that a clerk can't get."\nBig Red even has tried two different varieties of ID scanners. Employees found their conventional methods of hologram detection with backlights, running a finger across the face of an ID for any inconsistent scratches, placing the ID under a magnifying glass and cross-checking IDs with a state ID reference guide are just as effective. In addition, classes on fake ID detection are mandatory for Big Red employees and are held every few months.\nHowever, the use of these devices does not account for the obvious differences between the person depicted on the ID and the actual cardholder.\n"Obviously it is important (to spot fake IDs), but since so many students have real IDs of their older brother or sister, it's hard to stop," said Bloomington Police Department Captain Michael Diekhoff. "Using scanners would be helpful, though, only for fakes." \nTo keep up with advancing fake ID technology, Big Red Liquors managers are required to go through extensive training in fake ID detection. For this reason, spending money on age verification devices seems like a waste, Shanower said. \nIn cases of a real ID depicting a person different from the cardholder, scanning it would yield no information about the cardholder's age. If an ID is completely fake, clerks could be able to spot it because of extensive training.\n"Big Red Liquors did 2 million transactions last year, and (excise police) gave out six citations," Shanower said. \nHe is unsure, however, of the number of fake ID holders fortunate enough to slip through the cracks. \n"Our rules are very rigid; they are more stringent than the law," Shanower said. \nTokenWorks Inc. markets CardVisor ID Scanners as "packages that pay for themselves," according to the company's Web site. \nAlthough the advertisement sounds tempting, many local businesses remain reluctant to make the purchase.\n"We have looked into this type of system but felt that it, like most new electronics, was too pricey and not fully developed," said Kilroy's Manager Linda Prall. "We will be going to the National Restaurant Show in May and intend to look at the system again."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Ari \nJacobovits at ijacobov@indiana.edu.