2008 Woodie Awards
Fake IDs: Are they worth the risk?
Adria Eichner
Issue date: 12/7/04 Section: Features
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In a college town such as West Chester there is certainly no shortageof places that sell or serve beer and liquor. With all these opportunitiesto drink, underage students often feel pressured to rush the cherished day when they turn 21. In order to purchase alcohol or enter bars, many students have resorted to purchasing or producing fake identi- fi cation cards. Other students choose to use the ID of another individual who may or may not physically resemble them. Even though most people know that there are repercussions for such actions, these individuals still believe that the benefi ts outweigh the risks.
There are many people throughout West Chester who are determined to put a stop to underage drinking and the use of fake IDs. One of the fi rst lines of defense used in the fi ght against fake IDs is the all-powerful bouncer.
Most bars in college towns employ several bouncers in order to both check IDs and also to break up any possible fi ghts that may occur. The bouncers stand at the door and carefully inspect the identifi cation cards presented by the people who are attempting to enter the establishment.
WCU students Dennis Hagan and Joe Sannutti are bouncers at a local bar along Gay St. Theysaid that they would take approximately three to fi ve fake IDs per night at the beginning of the semester, but fortunately that number has gradually fallen to one to two per week. Sannutti says that the easiest way to spot a fake ID is to compare the height and eye color of the individual with what is stated on the card. He says that most of the people who try to enter with a fake ID do not necessarily possess a falsely created ID. The ID is usually real, but it is not actually the person on the card who is trying to get into the bar. Since this kind of activity is so common, many bouncers do not accept IDs that show anything other then zero for the number of duplicates.
Some people do still try to manufacture and purchase fake IDs. Bouncers are prepared and trained for dealing with these kinds of cards. Upon hiring, most bouncers are shown a book by an organization called RAMP (Responsible Alcohol Management Program), which states not only tips for checking IDs, but also a listing of examples of real IDs for each state. Since most fake IDs claim that the owner is from another state, this guide is especially useful for bouncers. Usually if a bouncer sees that an ID is from a strange state, he will either reserve the right to refuse entrance or he will consult this RAMP guide. Cpl. Bauman of the West Chester Police Department says that the easiest way to spot a fake ID is through poor quality. The RAMP guide instructs bouncers to actually feel for glue lines or bumpy surfaces, pin holes on the surface, or an odd level of thickness.
There are many people throughout West Chester who are determined to put a stop to underage drinking and the use of fake IDs. One of the fi rst lines of defense used in the fi ght against fake IDs is the all-powerful bouncer.
Most bars in college towns employ several bouncers in order to both check IDs and also to break up any possible fi ghts that may occur. The bouncers stand at the door and carefully inspect the identifi cation cards presented by the people who are attempting to enter the establishment.
WCU students Dennis Hagan and Joe Sannutti are bouncers at a local bar along Gay St. Theysaid that they would take approximately three to fi ve fake IDs per night at the beginning of the semester, but fortunately that number has gradually fallen to one to two per week. Sannutti says that the easiest way to spot a fake ID is to compare the height and eye color of the individual with what is stated on the card. He says that most of the people who try to enter with a fake ID do not necessarily possess a falsely created ID. The ID is usually real, but it is not actually the person on the card who is trying to get into the bar. Since this kind of activity is so common, many bouncers do not accept IDs that show anything other then zero for the number of duplicates.
Some people do still try to manufacture and purchase fake IDs. Bouncers are prepared and trained for dealing with these kinds of cards. Upon hiring, most bouncers are shown a book by an organization called RAMP (Responsible Alcohol Management Program), which states not only tips for checking IDs, but also a listing of examples of real IDs for each state. Since most fake IDs claim that the owner is from another state, this guide is especially useful for bouncers. Usually if a bouncer sees that an ID is from a strange state, he will either reserve the right to refuse entrance or he will consult this RAMP guide. Cpl. Bauman of the West Chester Police Department says that the easiest way to spot a fake ID is through poor quality. The RAMP guide instructs bouncers to actually feel for glue lines or bumpy surfaces, pin holes on the surface, or an odd level of thickness.
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