Vein scanners to replace recreation passes in Montgomery

by Cody Calamaio
Gazette
Aug. 05, 2010

..."When you go to jail they get your fingerprints, not when you go to play," said Sanome Barbieri, 40, of Chevy Chase. She moved from Italy a few months ago uses the Potomac Community Recreation Center to play pool and take classes.

[...]

The Department of Recreation would be the first in the county to use biometric technology, and "absolutely anticipates" the community to be wary, Riley said.

"Anything that's new, sometimes there's fear factor or push back," she said.

For some, the scanners are a step too far.

"I wouldn't come here. I just wouldn't come here anymore," said private trainer Rose Campbell, 54, of Potomac, who has been using the Potomac Community Recreation Center's weight room for 22 years.

Campbell said she isn't convinced the machines won't store private information.

"Who in their right mind came up with this? Is this anti-terrorism or something?" Campbell said. "This is America for God's sakes. It's America and we go to the gym with our little access cards."

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