Fake IDs are nothing new and have been around since documented identification systems were first used. Having correct identification provides a vast number of privileges, which mainly depend on the classification of the individual especially with regard to age, legal status and criminal record. Not having the correct identification can void a person of everyday requirements including driving a car, clearing a cheque, obtaining alcohol or even the right to rent or sublet.

The question as to what would be considered a fake ID has a very simple answer. Any form of identification being provided with any false information or used by someone who is not the original owner would be considered a fake ID. Fake ID may come in many forms such as altered or forged real IDs, newly created false IDs or borrowed or stolen IDs.

Despite the ID being real, if it does not belong to the person it is being presented by, if the readable data on it is incorrect or if it has been altered in any way, it is a fake ID.

How to Get a Fake ID?

• Purchasing a fake ID has gotten easier by the day. Since the current IDs are made of either metal or plastic, they are easy to forge. Components to put together any form of fake ID are commercially available with a vast library of online videos and tutorials on how to make fake IDs.
• Such an ID can be bought either online or in person through certain areas of every city in the US. The ones bought online from international operations involve financial transactions that are impossible to track, especially with the increased use of cryptocurrency.
• High-quality fake IDs are said to be available for as low as $50, whereas exact duplicates are sold for more than $200. The annual income from online sales are estimated to be upward of $1,000,000 for certain suppliers.

The other form of fake ID is having a real ID with forged information. The common alterations consist of editing barcodes, adding or replacing photos, editing magnetic stripes on the back of the ID or altering the data.

Why Fake IDs Go Undetected by Bouncers

Fake IDs are said to be so accurate that even the best ID scanners are sometimes unable to catch them. Since even electronics are sometimes are unable to catch fake IDs, club bouncers are no better. Hence, it is important that the people or authorities put in place are trained enough to recognize a fake ID just by its looks or feel.

Crackdown on Fake IDs in California

With the recent advent of various computer imaging and picture editing software along with the availability of professional quality printing, there has been a hike in the reported cases of seized fake IDs. This sums down to any individual adept at using any photo editing software being able to produce fake IDs easily. This has raised serious alarms for the authorities, which has led to almost every state in the US having stricter laws for fake ID holders. Some states even punish them as felons.

As per the New York state governor Andrew Cuomo’s website, more than 800 minors have been arrested in 2017 in New York for possessing fake ID with the intent of buying alcohol. This has been a record high number for New York, breaking all previous records. In addition, more than a thousand business were charged in New York for selling alcohol to minors. In Central New York alone, 133 minors were arrested and 83 businesses penalized.

• As per the statement released by the state, the main motive for the crackdown has been the safety of the public. The New York State Liquor Authority along with the Department of Motor Vehicles initiated ‘Operation Prevent’ that targeted people at bars and concerts. The DMV has focused on arresting people, mainly minors, for fake ID possessions, whereas the State Liquor Authority has focused on businesses selling liquor to minors.
• Another major crackdown was initiated by Governor Cuomo with collaboration of the DMV in 2018 with the use of latest apps in order to make arrests on false IDs. This made New York the first state to test out such a pilot program.
• The app, Law ID, has been developed by Intellicheck Inc. 211 people were arrested only in the first half of 2018, and the DMV reported the app as being correct 100 percent of the time. Records have shown that 100 out of the total arrests were reported at bars solely during the months of August and July.

The DMV reported, as of August 2018, that the app was only to be used at concerts and bars, but authorities aim to expand its use throughout the state.

Technological Approach to Catch Fake IDs

Law ID has been one of the most innovative initiatives taken to fight the increasing illegal activities. The way the app works is that it scans the barcode on any given identification and cross-references it with all the DMV records in the 50 states across the US.

Now, this brings attention to another problem for business owners, who already claim that the law is unfairly strict with them when it comes to selling alcohol to minors, especially when fake identifications are extremely difficult to capture. Business owners argue that this app gives control to police officers and leaves bouncers helpless in identifying fake IDs.

As per a bar owner in downtown New York, business owners are fined up to $10,000 for the first offence. The rate of fines goes up as the violations increase. The Liquor Authority may even take away the bar’s license if the violations occur 3 to 4 times. Hence, business owners claim that they should be provided equipment which can be used to detect fake IDs.

The DMV, in turn, argue that giving such authority to bar or club owners would pose a much higher security risk as it cannot be handed out to the general public besides law enforcement authorities.

Effect on the Economy of Using Fake IDs

Surveys suggest that most fake ID holders are minors who aim to gain access to alcohol. The economic cost estimated with the alcohol problem in the US totals to more than $175 billion annually, whereas just underage drinking costs the US government an upward of $57 billion annually. We may not know how much these figures are affected by fake IDs, but it is important to note that the financial consequences are borne by public sources, which further stresses the budget.

The main objective to identify the demerits posed by fake IDs is that they can be avoided if the correct measures are put into place.

Effect on Society of Using Fake IDs

A major threat of the fake ID mafia is that the people issuing fake IDs usually require personal information of the user, including address and other forms of identifications. This personal information can be stolen by the provider and distributed overseas to commit major felonies and make illegal purchases abroad. In fact, some people have unknowingly had their personal information used illegally to make large purchases such as real estate.

The use of fake IDs poses strong demerits for the society. On one hand, it affects business owners, the general society and families along with broader economic and social aspects. These are not only restricted to alcohol access by minors but also includes serious criminals. For instance, the Las Vegas shooter allegedly used a fake ID to book the room from where he opened fire at the open crowd. Similarly, the 9/11 terrorists had used a series of fake IDs while carrying out the attacks.

Penalties for Possessing a Fake ID

As for the offenders or people caught using fake IDs, the penalties imposed by the California state law depend on the purpose of using the fake ID. As per a New York Times article, there isn’t a mandatory license suspension law, but the final decision rests on the discretion of the judge, who is usually likely to impose the law.

As per an article in "The Washington Square News" (which is an NYC newspaper), the maximum sentence for holding a fake ID is one year in a state prison. The minimum penalty for the same offence is a fined as well as a court summons.

It is to be noted that when it comes to clubs and bars, if the fake ID is caught by the security of the establishment being entered, the ID is confiscated. This is a common practice. The fake ID is then handed over to the police or other law enforcement authorities later that night. If the information on the fake ID is correct beside the age, the offender would get into serious trouble.

First-time offenders are usually fined a maximum of $1,000 by the court, though every fake ID case is handled differently depending on the circumstances. The charges and penalty are both decided by the offender’s criminal history and how frequently they have committed the same offence. This would apply to both the business and the person holding the fake ID.

In case the offender is cited for a more serious offence than just having a fake driver’s license or ID, the person is punishable on a federal or state level. However, jail time can usually be avoided if it is the first arrest of the offender.

Other reports suggest that getting caught with a fake ID in New York could be charged with a class-A misdemeanor, which could mean a three-year probation period or, as mentioned above, a $1000 fine. As per some lawyers, the bigger consequence for being convicted in New York state is that this conviction goes on the personal record of the offender and stays there, which may be a serious hindrance when applying for employment.

As per every state of the United States, it is illegal to hold a fake ID. However, when every case is examined, the intention of the offender plays an important part in the decision made by the court. If the offender is caught with someone else’s real ID, they could be faced with misdemeanor or just traffic charges.

In New York, however, the offender could be charged with criminal impersonation of the second degree. The judge would then examine whether the fake ID was only being used to get into a bar or for something worse like financial gain.