Peoria nightclub does criminal background checks on patrons

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - A Peoria nightclub is conducting one-time criminal background checks on customers.

Saddle Up owner Ty Seibert says no specific incident prompted the policy. But he noted some at other area entertainment spots in the past six months.

The (Peoria) Journal-Star reports that the country-themed bar is open until 4 a.m. on weekends. Seibert says the new policy is a pilot program called "Club in Confidence."

Employees will check identification of would-be patrons. Then they will scan the bar code on the back to run a criminal background check that lasts no more than 30 seconds.

Arrests for violent crimes that show up in the past seven years will deny entry to a customer. A clear record will trigger an update to allow a customer to bypass the check next time.