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.
Answer: It is not illegal under state or federal law for any business to scan your ID card.
"There is nothing that forbids a business from doing that kind of scanning, although I don’t believe it is as widespread (here) as it is on the mainland," said Bruce Kim, executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection.
The state Legislature did pass a bill last session that would allow ID scanning for "limited purposes only." Senate Bill 2419 is pending Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s signature to become law.
"You’re walking a really fine line here," Kim acknowledged. "How much (information scanned) is too much" and what happens to that information?"
Currently, there are no restrictions on what information businesses can scan, "so this (bill) is a step in the right direction," he said.
Kim noted it is your choice whether to patronize a business that requires scanning.
7-Eleven Hawaii’s scanning of IDs follows a policy instituted in 2007 to require anyone purchasing alcohol to produce an ID. (See is.gd/2azuv9.)
The company scans IDs in Hawaii to verify if the ID is authentic and to verify a person’s age, when selling age-restricted products such as liquor and tobacco, explained Blake Yokotake, human resources manager.
"In the past, when we couldn’t scan IDs, the clerks would have to determine just by looking at an ID if it’s fake or not," he said. "There are a lot of good fakes out there."
Yokotake emphasized that "our scanners only look for the birth date and the expiration date of the ID. If a person is not at least 21 by (the) date when they scan it … the transaction gets locked," he said.
Everyone is asked for an ID to take the subjective and sometimes stressful judgment out of the hands of clerks. Even someone 80 years old, which results in "some complaints," Yokotake said. But, "It’s a consistent policy that we have all our sales associates do."
Scanning does not result in 7-Eleven "holding" on to any personal information, he said: "We don’t know what the customer’s name is. We don’t know what their address is. We don’t know the color of their eyes or their height. There’s nothing in that transaction that would link that transaction to anybody."
Senate Bill 2419
Lawmakers who worked on the bill said "a balance must be obtained between permitting responsible entities to lawfully use an individual’s personal information while also protecting the privacy interests of individuals."
They said the bill addresses concerns by prohibiting the random scanning of an ID card or driver’s license, prohibiting retention of any personal information except in specific circumstances, and prohibiting businesses from selling or disseminating the information.
7-Eleven’s practice would be allowed under the bill.
For more details, go to is.gd/8RjpQc.
Mahalo
To Ed Davis with Costco Kapolei gas station. After I filled up with gas, my car battery died. Mr. Davis pushed my car out of the service line and used his vehicle to charge the battery. It was a hot Kapolei day and I am grateful for his assistance.
— Kapua Taketa
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