Law allows businesses to scan a customer's ID

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 31, 2012

~~<p>Question:Why is 7-Eleven scanning our driver's license and claiming it's to verify our birthday to purchase alcohol? I went to 7-Eleven at the McCully Shopping Center and was asked for my ID. I'm 58, with gray hair and beard, but said, "Sure" and flipped open my ID. The clerk said, "No, sir, by law, I must see your ID and take it." He then grabs a scanner and scans it. I never heard of such a law. Also, for anyone over 50, why would you even need to ask for an ID? I called the company human resources director who said there is no law, but the company's policy, because a lot of people try to lie about their age. I can see asking for an ID, but to scan it, that's a different story because all my personal information comes up.</p>
<p>Answer: It is not illegal under state or federal law for any business to scan your ID card.</p>
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Question:Why is 7-Eleven scanning our driver's license and claiming it's to verify our birthday to purchase alcohol? I went to 7-Eleven at the McCully Shopping Center and was asked for my ID. I'm 58, with gray hair and beard, but said, "Sure" and flipped open my ID. The clerk said, "No, sir, by law, I must see your ID and take it." He then grabs a scanner and scans it. I never heard of such a law. Also, for anyone over 50, why would you even need to ask for an ID? I called the company human resources director who said there is no law, but the company's policy, because a lot of people try to lie about their age. I can see asking for an ID, but to scan it, that's a different story because all my personal information comes up.