By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A network of new Patronscan ID scanners is being introduced at downtown Tucson bars and restaurants, allowing businesses to share real-time alerts about patrons who have been removed for disruptive behavior.
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The rollout follows a mass shooting in Tucson two weeks ago that injured nine people, but has been in the works for several months.
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The devices, coordinated through the Downtown Tucson Partnership, photograph a patron’s face when their ID is scanned and share that information with a network of 16 participating bars and restaurants.
If a patron is removed from one venue, staff can log a note in the system — which is then pushed as an SMS alert to other businesses on the network.
“The picture of me comes up with my ID; it’s linked together, they can put in a little SMS message, and everybody in the line gets that note,” said Crystal Moore, president and CEO of the Downtown Tucson Partnership.
How the system works
If a patron is flagged at one location and attempts to enter another participating venue, staff at that second location will see the alert when they scan the patron’s ID.
Moore said three downtown businesses have been using similar scanners for more than a year as part of the Together Tucson initiative. At least 72 people have been banned across the network so far, which includes temporary suspensions to permanent bans.
Moore said the scanners were successful in decreasing violence in participating venues, but did not update in real time throughout the night. The newer Patronscan model is designed to close that gap with updates every 15 minutes.
“We’re never going to be 100%, although we can all try, and this is one of those mechanisms in the attempt to deflect as much negative behavior in downtown as we can,” Moore said.
Participating venues
The following 16 downtown businesses are part of the Patronscan network:
- Batch Cafe & Bar
- Block A Sports Bar and Grill
- The Neighborhood Bar Dwtn
- Chela’s Latin Cuisine
- LAVA BAR
- Rialto Theatre
- 191 Toole
- R Bar
- Cobra Arcade and Bar
- Hotel Congress Plaza
- Century Room
- Tiger’s Tap Room
- Highwire
- Lucky Penny
Business owners see it as proactive tool
Grant Krueger, owner of Block A Sports Bar and Grill, signed up to receive one of the new scanners. He said the technology gives venues a way to stop repeat offenders from moving from one bar to the next.
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“Technology like this can help protect everybody from the 1% that’s out there causing the problems and ruining it for the other 99%,” Krueger said.
Krueger acknowledged the limitations of managing large crowds, particularly when alcohol is involved.
“It’s a numbers game. It’s never going to be perfect out there on the streets when you get thousands and thousands of people,” he said.
Scanners expected online by mid-August
Moore said the first weekend following the shooting was calm and that customer turnout did not drop noticeably. The new scanners are expected to arrive this week and be operational by mid-August.
“You’re here, we want you to have a good time, and we want you to come back. But if you don’t behave and you are a nuisance, then we’re going to ask you not to return,” Moore said.
I think this is going to help promote a more enjoyable experience for everybody when we help keep out the very small percentage of people that cause the very large percentage of problems that we’ve had in downtown,” Krueger said.
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