If the CG office wants to photocopy your DL...

So here's the story: The person checking us in asked to see my DL and then photocopied it. I asked what's the reason, because I'm concerned about identity theft. (there are six to eight photocopies of OTHER people's DL laying on the counter in plain view) The owner responded that he needs to know who's on his property. After hearing my concerns he agreed to secure my copy and return it when we checked out. He took to the next room.

We would not have proceeded except we were meeting up with a group who was already staying there.

My concern is the lack of security and collecting personal ID's for facetious reasons. If there were any security or legal issues, then certainly credit card numbers and license plates are adequate for the purposes of law enforcement.

During our stay there, I entered and left the office a few times, and I noticed a group of workampers could freely come and go through the office complex. It was sort of random with regard to who you might find in there. Not really a full time clerk per se.
I did ask for and get my copy back when we left. When the clerk retrieved my copy it was not locked up, but in an open bin I could see from the outer room.

I won't stay there again, or any other place with that requirement. In my view the operation is playing fast and loose with the personal information of their customers. Not acceptable in this day and age. A number of people could have easily taken my license. I could have taken someone's license copy when the clerk turned away from me, or I could have taken a picture of the whole batch with my phone.

Homer wrote:
I do not believe he has the right to copy that information. Never have had any one but a hospital copy my DL or anything else.

Assuming the campground is a private business, I don't see why they would not have the right to demand to copy your license as a condition of your staying there. Likewise, you have every right to take your business elsewhere if you're not willing to let them do that. There's no law against making a photocopy of driver's licenses as a matter of business policy.

I don't think I've ever had a campground demand to see my license. I have stayed at one or two hotels/motels that have made a copy, and a great many that check it and quite possibly note the pertinent information from it.

I have had to do this a couple of times at a hotel... Never at a CG...

Roy Ken

My job, when I had one, and my Dr are the only ones that ever asked to copy it. I do have to show it from time to time if I use a credit card.
I would not stay there.

The last three times I have stayed in hotels in the states, my drivers license was scanned and returned to me. No photocopying necessary.
When I lived in Europe, and stayed in hotels, the front desk kept my passport overnight, as the police came in and checked on who was staying in the town's lodging facilities.
There may be something to the Homeland Security thing, but I don't know of any requirement by DHS to keep records of transients.
I would think the hotels or campgrounds may keep the record not so much for homeland security purposes, but for assessment of any additional charges for damages once you check out.

soren wrote:

SolidAxleDurango wrote:
The same thing happens at every hotel on earth.... How's this any different?

Must be a different earth, I have stayed at countless hotels and have yet to have anybody make a copy of mine.

In europe you won't check into a hotel without a passport. Not sure about drivers license.

I understand that the older crowd doesn't always "get things" especially as it relates to IT..... But some of you would be really surprised at what digital exhaust trail you're constantly leaving behind without your knowledge and totally with your consent. :)

SolidAxleDurango wrote:
The same thing happens at every hotel on earth.... How's this any different?

Must be a different earth, I have stayed at countless hotels and have yet to have anybody make a copy of mine.

I do not believe he has the right to copy that information. Never have had any one but a hospital copy my DL or anything else.

SolidAxleDurango wrote:
One swipe through their reader is all it takes! Photocopy not necessary.

I don't think campgrounds have drivers license readers????