Palm Scanners In Use At Carroll County Schools

WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- Carroll County students are now using palm scanners to pay for their lunches, causing some parents to worry about their children's privacy.

The county is one of the first areas in Maryland to use the PalmSecure system, which pulls up each child's account with a scan of their palm. Karen Sarno, supervisor of food services, says the school system's goal is to decrease the time between transactions.

The school system does not store images of children's palms, yet some parents say they believe the technology is an invasion of privacy. Sarno says about 20 percent of parents have declined to participate in the program.

The PalmSecure system is used in schools throughout the country.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)