ID scanners ‘scramble’
Extra IT staff put on to fix bar headaches
A COMPANY supplying scanners for controversial compulsory nightclub ID checks admits it is scrambling to make foreign IDs compatible.
Scantek, one of two scanner technology suppliers approved by the Liquor and Gaming Commissioner, has hired extra developers to “keep smashing out the international IDs”.
But Scantek national sales manager Tony Ingram said while extra IDs were being constantly made compatible he could not give a timeframe for how long it would take.
The admission comes three weeks after State Government made ID scanning compulsory Queensland-wide in Safe Night Precincts including Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.
The launch – on Canada Day – coincided with howls of outrage from Glitter Strip bar bosses fuming about American, Canadian and Kiwi IDs not being compatible and requiring manual entry taking several minutes.
Bar bosses said it led to queuing and frustrated punters.
Mr Ingram said there were “literally thousands” of different IDs.
“More IDs are complete and getting put on, more developers are being hired to keep pushing out new IDs and help develop the system to make the entry process for ve- nues streamlined with minimal holdups. This is our goal.”
It is cold comfort for club owners who say it has been rushed and poorly executed.
The scanners are linked to a central database which redflags problem patrons with police, court or other venue bans. In the first two weeks, 500,000 IDs were scanned leading to 21 patrons being barred from entry, with eight in Surfers Paradise.
Broadbeach’s Envy Hotel manager Peter Thompson said based on the figures the whole thing did not seem worth it.
It was also deterring regulars from his venue who were frustrated at having to queue.
“It’s embarrassing because we know who they are but they have to get in line behind 100 young ones and they are waving their hands at us but we can’t do anything.”
Venues staying open after midnight which don’t scan from 10pm are liable for a $1200 fine per patron.
Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said at the weekend the rap sheets of those bad eggs excluded from entry showed the scheme was worthwhile.
Plus it was deterring “undesirables” from trying to enter nightclubs in the first place.
Hollywood Showgirls owner Craig Duffy said catching 21 people out of 500,000 was no success, given the costs of installation: “To me, that is a great failure.”