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Fake IDs pose threat
BY MIKE McGRATH
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
*Statesman staged photo: Brian Ries provided us with I.D., and is 22.
Underage college students are using fake IDs to purchase alcohol in liquor stores and bars for a night of boozing and debauchery, but they should be aware of the many risks involved. A 19-year-old Arizona student came to visit some friends at UMD. The girls went out for a night on the town and began visiting numerous bars in Duluth. Unfortunately, the night took a turn for the worst. “Everything was going fine until we went to Grandma’s Sports Garden,” said the anonymous ASU student. “The officer at the door knew instantly that and I didn’t even remember what my fake name was.” The ticket was for a misdemeanor charge of false representation of identification and cost her $380. She went on to explain it brought a damper on the trip, and although she knew the ID wasn’t great, she thought it would work.
Sgt. Tim LeGarde, of university police, said that police officers around the state are increasing their abilities to recognize fake IDs through training courses. They look for holograms, watermarks and take a glance to see if anything is out of the ordinary, but do admit that counterfeits keep coming up with some pretty good copies.
“Fake IDs have always been a concern for us and we are always coming across them,” said LeGarde. “We are also always on the look out for them.” LeGarde also explained that bars and liquor stores around the area are training their employees on the basics of recognizing a fake ID, but acknowledges that out-of-state fake IDs are going to be harder to recognize.
According to LeGarde, those that use a fake ID run the risk of multiple charges. These charges could include underage consumption, possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, drunk and disorderly and, if the person’s health is at risk, a couple days in detox. One UMD student never had a problem when using his older brother’s driver’s license. “Me and my brother look alike so I always knew it was going to work,” said the anonymous UMD student. “I don’t want to say I wasn’t scared to use the fake ID, but after awhile the employees at the liquor store remembered me and stopped asking for my ID.”
According to LeGarde, there is a difference between using a manufactured fake ID with made-up information and using someone else’s ID. Using a manufactured fake ID is a misdemeanor, but when using someone else’s ID, it becomes a gross misdemeanor, because the perpetrator is assuming his/her identity. There is a big difference, both in possible jail time and financial penalty. A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine. A gross misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or $3,000 fine, according to the Minnesota State Legislature
