Scanner Role

Age Verifiers / ID Checkers 

TokenWorks provides the CardVisor ID Checker to automate and document the ID checking process for purchasing age sensitive products (Tobacco/Alcohol). 

The number one cause for citations, according to enforcement officers, is mental errors such as failing to check an ID or making a math error when calculating the age from the date of birth printed on the ID.  In a busy retail environment, a clerk/server is motivated to rapidly complete the sales process.  In this environment, it is easy to understand a new or tired clerk/server skipping important steps or making calculation errors. 

Recording the ID data, ID status (OK, under21, etc.) with a date/time stamp provides an affirmative defense for organizations cited for serving a minor.  Several states have affirmative defense legislation which helps defend an organization's liquor license if an ID Checker was used. 

Fake or Altered IDs

The CardVisor ID Checkers will help detect some fake or altered IDs.  Just having one will cause some people to think twice about presenting such an ID. 

The CardVisor ID Checker will help detect if the printed date of birth or expiration date has been altered using ink (e.g. changing a 3 to an 8).  In most instances, the ID Checker will read the unaltered date encoded on the data stripe and display an underage/expired warning.  Another possibility is the encoded data stripe doesn't match the printed data on the front of the license (e.g. John Smith is printed on the front, but Mary Jones is encoded on the stripe).  In this case, the ID Checker will NOT produce a warning but an operator who is cross checking the displayed versus printed data should notice the discrepancy.   

However, fake IDs are like counterfeit money in that if the person creating them has sufficient skill and resources, it is extremely difficult to detect without proper investigation resources.  Merchants serving age sensitive products are expected to make a reasonable effort when checking IDs and using an ID Checker is a significant indicator of such effort.  That is why many states have affirmative defense legislation for merchants who use an ID Checker.