It happened in Alberta, but Victoria's bars are counting on a different ruling west of the border.

Last week, several Victoria bars launched an expensive ID-scanning system, despite an impending ruling that could see the system banned.

"The timing (of the launch) is irrelevant," said Scott Gurney, spokesperson for the Victoria Bar and Cabaret Association.

"We're not concerned with the (B.C. Privacy Commissioner's) decision," he said, adding a ruling has been expected "in two weeks" for almost a year.

After three years of deliberation, Commissioner David Loukidelis will soon make an order regarding the surveillance system. The technology, which is central to the Bar Watch security strategy adopted by Victoria's bar association, scans patrons' identification as they enter a bar. It is designed to thwart rowdy and criminal behaviour, but it has also sparked privacy concerns.

If Loukidelis makes an order against ID scanning, it could require bar owners to discontinue their new equipment.

It happened in Alberta last year after that privacy commissioner ruled the system was collecting more information than necessary. Also weighing into the decision was a lack of confidence that the data collected was secure and a lack of evidence that the system reduced crime, said spokesperson Wayne Wood.

The order was challenged in a judiciary review, but ultimately upheld in March 2009.

Now, Alberta bars can no longer scan IDs but are welcome to take patrons' photos and record their name and age, Wood said.

In B.C., however, the privacy laws are slightly different and so is the equipment provider.

Treoscope Technologies manufactures the scanning devices in B.C. bars.

Driver's licence number and expiry date are only made available to police officers doing investigations, said company president Owen Cameron.

Cameron also pointed to a 60 per cent decrease in violent incidents in Vancouver since his equipment was adopted in 30 bars. Victoria police agree: "Bar watch saves lives" is the department's official line.

The B.C. privacy commissioner is not taking interviews. However, his decision will likely consider the steps Troscope has taken to prevent identify theft, said Victoria lawyer John Gustafson.

In B.C., taking personal information can't be a condition of service unless it's required to perform the service, Gustafson added. One could argue that ID scanning is necessary for business security, he said. On the other hand, helping police investigations is not part of a bar's service.

Meanwhile, several downtown bars got their first chance to test their equipment over the weekend.

Upstairs Lounge manager, Roger Robinson, said it went very well.

"Nobody complained ... Not one."

Late-night restaurants are also looking to get in on the action.

Don Monsour, of the British Columbia Restaurant and Food Services Association, said late-night eateries need new ways to protect themselves.

On Monday, Monsour met with council's late night task force, mandated to curb downtown rowdiness.

"We're the recipient of problems but we don't cause the problems," he said.

He calls for more education to help servers deal with drunk customers. He also wants to see Bar Watch expanded to businesses that serve the post-bar crowd.

rholmen@saanichnews.com