Together Tucson initiative grows as downtown businesses focus on safety

A group of downtown Tucson bars and restaurants is expanding a shared security program created to discourage disruptive behavior and improve safety after a July 19 mass shooting that injured nine people.

The initiative, called Together Tucson, lets participating businesses share information about customers who use fake identification or are removed for misconduct. Businesses can decide for themselves whether to deny entry based on that information.

The program started more than a year ago with three nightlife venues and has grown to 17 participating operators. It uses PatronScan scanners to verify ages and detect fraudulent IDs. Rio Nuevo funding is expected to help the Downtown Tucson Partnership purchase the scanners, with installation planned by mid-August.

Participation is voluntary, and each business controls how it uses the shared information. The system’s default data retention period is 21 days, although businesses can reduce that period to as little as 24 hours. Organizers say the effort is meant to support a safer downtown while preserving its nightlife economy.