Indiana

As a hotel in Indiana, you are allowed to retain and use information obtained from IDs for the following purposes:

1. Verifying a customer’s age
2. Establishing a customer’s identity
3. Confirming a customer’s license status to operate a vehicle
4. Disclosing such information to another business for:
   • Verifying a check payment
   • Evaluating creditworthiness
   • Detecting or reducing the risk of fraud, abuse, identity theft, or other crimes
   • Collection activities
   • Confirming that a customer has met the motor vehicle financial responsibility requirements
5. Disclosing such information to:
   • The department of transportation
   • Insurance licensees
   • Notaries
   • Financial institutions if permitted by federal law
   • Law enforcement agencies

Now, let’s delve deeper into the specifics of Indiana’s ID scanning laws and regulations.

Indiana’s ID Scanning Laws

Effective July 1, 2010, Indiana implemented a new law, IC 7.1-5-10-23, requiring all individuals making a carry-out purchase to show a photo ID. This law is particularly relevant to hotels selling alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption. The law states that it is a Class B misdemeanor for a permittee or an employee or agent of a permittee to recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally sell, barter, exchange, provide, or furnish another person an alcoholic beverage for consumption off the licensed premises without first requiring the person to produce:

1. A driver’s license
2. An identification card issued under IC 9-24-16-1 or a similar card issued under the laws of another state or the federal government
3. A government-issued document bearing the person’s photograph and birth date showing that the person is at least twenty-one (21) years of age

It’s important to note that in a criminal or administrative proceeding, it is a defense to a charge under this section that the individual to whom the permittee or employee or agent of the permittee sold, bartered, exchanged, provided, or furnished alcoholic beverages for consumption off the licensed premises was or reasonably appeared to be more than fifty (50) years of age.

Indiana Statutes

The statute IC 7.1-5-10-23 is quite clear in its directives. It emphasizes the importance of verifying the age and identity of a customer before selling them alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption. This is particularly relevant for hotels that offer room service or sell alcohol for guests to consume in their rooms.

The law also provides a defense for permittees or their agents if the individual they sold the alcoholic beverages to appeared to be over fifty years old. This means that if a customer appears to be well over the legal drinking age, the hotel may have a defense if a charge is brought under this section.

Please note that this information is intended to provide a general overview and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult with a legal professional for advice specific to your situation