FAQ


We receive so many emails and calls to answer questions operators and their staff have.  Most of the questions we have answered several times before, and frankly, we know we are going to have to answer them again, and again.  With that in mind, we have created this simple and what we hope, informative portion of our website.


With this page, we don’t want to simply answer questions that we think you might have interest in.  Instead, we would like you to help us help our industry.  Sure, we will be adding in some of the basic information that we talk about, but we want your input here.  Please email your questions to admin@nightclubsecurity.com and we will find the proper response or will point you in the correct direction.


And, for our friends worried about the legal issues we might address, we do not intend for this section to be a legal advise page nor are we providing legal council or opinion.  We advise any and all of you to consult your own attorney with the same questions and even with the guidance we might provide here.  However, as one smart club owner reminded us along time ago, your attorney is providing you with advise and you must make the ultimate decision on what to do.


Q - Can a door host confiscate a bad or borrowed identification?

A - Some states have passed legislation allowing for the confiscation of a bad or borrowed form of identification from an underage person at the door or inside the bar.  However, most states have no such law.  In the states that don’t give exact direction from law makers or from enforcement officials, I discussed the issue with beverage control agents and other law enforcement officials.  Nearly all of them gave me that same answer regarding no rules surrounding confiscation.

First, get the bad or borrowed identification in your hand.  Put it in your pocket or just out of site.  Tell the underage person you know the ID is bad or borrowed.  Then tell the underage person you are going to call the police and let them deal with the issue.  Have the underage person step off to the side of the line or outside of the bar altogether.  With the underage person outside, wait approximately 15 minutes before you call police.  If, after 15 minutes has passed, the underage person is still waiting, call the police.  Now, if during that 15 minutes of waiting, the underage person walks off, well, you didn’t confiscate the ID, it was abandoned by the underage person.

Finally, if you do call the police, call the non-emergency number and tell the dispatcher what you have.  Let the underage person know you called and they will have to wait.  When and if the police arrive, give them the ID and let them handle the underage person.  REMEMBER, even if the police give the underage person the ID back, don’t let them in the venue.


Q - Can a door host make a citizen’s detention of a violent assaultive patron?

A - Yes, but there are several issues to consider.  First, remember that a nightclub or bar security worker has the same detention powers as any private citizen walking the street.

So, if a host is working the club floor and witnesses an assault, they can lawfully detail the subject by using only that force necessary to safely detain the subject.  But since they just witnessed the assault, they person assaulted will be the victim and ultimately make the citizen’s arrest.  Now, if the door host is the person assaulted, that door host can still lawfully detain the subject but will now also be the victim and ultimately make the citizen’s arrest.

Another important point to remember is that nearly all law enforcement agencies do not want private citizen’s or door hosts making these private person detentions; most want hosts and other employees to not become involved and instead, call authorities to handle problems like this.  However, if bar security workers handle problems this way, other, possibly more expensive and serious problems can arise; Civil Liability.

So, the answer to the questions is yes, but be sure to detain the bad guy with only force necessary to lawfully detail the person.  Don’t go overboard.


Q - Can a law enforcement agent; police officer, sheriff’s deputy, fire marshall or beverage control agent enter and inspect a bar, club or other alcohol sales establishment without a search warrant?

A - Yes.  But this inspection is limited to the areas of the bar or club and not the private property of the employees.  So, if the cops walk up to the door and say they are coming in to look around, let them pass and notify the shift manager.  If you delay them as they want to enter, the employee who delays them might be subject to arrest for delaying and obstructing officers.

Remember, this topic is for on duty, uniformed or plain clothes officers.  This rule does not apply to off duty officers coming in to have a drink off duty with friends.


Q - How many cameras should we have?

A - This is a very difficult question to just give a simple answer to.  Let me tell you some basic needs that we feel can assist any bar, club, restaurant or any other alcohol sales venue.

  1. 1. Have coverage of the front door.  This is normally done with a single camera, but we recommend it’s done with a minimum of two.  Be sure to have good coverage of any door host that might be checking identification, collecting a cover charge or addressing any dress code issues.

  2. 2. Cover any hot spots such as outside of restrooms, hallways, dance floors and beer tubs or mini bars.  A hot spot is basically any area that by it’s own                  nature can cause or present problems.

  3. 3. Cover the bar and or the areas surrounding the wells and cash registers.  Cameras will not just catch possible trouble makers but will assist in stopping employee theft.

  4. 4. Try to have coverage of any parking lots or nearby sidewalks.  Many problems such as fights or other altercations may not occur within view of the front door camera.  These cameras should be mounted on the end of the building or on nearby buildings.

This is just a start for any operator.  Remember this however, if you think you have enough cameras, add five (5) more.  Don’t hesitate to do this.  Trust us, the more cameras you have, the more money that can be saved when that inevitable civil law suit arrives.


Q - Should we do background checks on our employees?

A - YES !  Especially your security staff, but honestly, do them on all your employees.  You need to know if your staff, especially your security staff are convicted felons, drug addicts, sexual predators or some other bad element.



More to come...