Consider Renting an ID Scanner
If your association or organization is having an event that serves beer, then you should seriously consider renting an id scanner.
ID Scanners read drivers license and IDs, warn when under age and save data to prove you are checking IDs. Its not the silver bullet and you still need to make sure the person presenting the ID is the same one shown on the ID before its scanned, but it greatly speeds the process, limits human error and most importantly can be used to prove whats called due diligence. For example, if a kid presents his friend’s ID and then the police do a spot check, the id scanner’s memory will let you prove he didn’t use his real ID.
I recently was at the Philadelphia zoo which hosted an event, and they rented an id scanner from this company’s web site – www.idscanner.com. There are other companies out there who will rent a scanner and you should shop around.
Look for:
- Clear Rental terms detailed in a contract or purchase invoice
- Look for id scanners that read IDs from all states – this means 2D barcode and magnetic card reader.
- Companies who are reputable – BBB rated, accept credit cards, commercial office space
- Make sure the ID Scanner saves data and it can be downloaded. If possible, ask the rental company to download and email you the data. Save this data for a couple months and then delete it.
- Rugged units – they get dropped and you don’t want to pay a damage fee.
Finally, when providing the ID Scanner to the security staff, give them some basic training (ask the rental company for advice) and tell them they have to buy it if they loose it 
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