License-scanning bars under scrutiny

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Privacy commissioners in two Canadian provinces are reviewing whether bars that scan patrons' driver's licenses for security purposes are within the law.

The challenge to the practice came February in Alberta and a judicial review is scheduled for Dec. 18, the Canwest News Service reported.

Now, British Columbia's commissioner is examining whether the practice that accumulates license data infringes on privacy rights.

Mary Carlson, executive director of the British Columbia office of the privacy commissioner, said it's possible bars are building databases with too much personal information obtained from the licenses.

"Under privacy laws, businesses can only ask you to produce personal information that's necessary for the service," she said.

The Bar Watch system records a person's birth date, address, height, weight, eye and hair color, gender, signature, license expiration date, license number and a photograph, the report said.

Police and bar owners say the license-swiping system has resulted in reducing bar violence by tracking who has entered the establishment, the report said.