San Francisco police have finalized plans to curb violence that occurs outside area nightclubs.
Under the new plans, entertainment venues would have to have security cameras, metal detectors and ID scanners that electronically store a person’s driver’s license data for 15 daysto counter recent violence that has occurred outside nightclubs, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
ID data would be turned over to police at their request, along with camera images, according to a draft of the recommended plans.
Tony Winnicker, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s spokesman, said these plans are only preliminary and are one step in a lengthy process that will include input from club owners and promoters.
“The mayor asked for the most expansive list of possible steps that could be taken,” Winnicker said. “The idea is that we would narrow it down to the ones that would be both practical and prudent to ensure public safety inside and outside the clubs.”
Some of the plans will likely be opposed by civil rights advocates on the grounds they invade privacy. Club owners will probably see some recommendations as expensive and impractical.
Currently, an appointed Entertainment Commission reviews security plans for venues before issuing permits. After several shootings outside venues, the mayor and Board of Supervisors questioned whether the panel could effectively manage the clubs.
Plans were formulated shortly after theAug. 8 killing of tourist Mechthild Schröer, 50, of Minden, Germany, who was killed in a hail of gunfire along the tourist-filled 400 block of Mason Street, according to the San Francisco Examiner.
Venues will have to meet the conditions in order to obtain an entertainment permit.
