2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: Fake IDs not worth the risk
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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11/02/07 - You might think that fake IDs are a right of passage, a way for students to learn exactly how to order their favorite drink before they turn 21 years old, and an opportunity to see just how much they can get away with when they are young and restless.
But the consequences of being caught carrying a fake identification card can be painful. The punishment is not simply being turned away at the door and being embarrassed in front of your friends and peers. Rhode Island law states that a $100 to $250 fine, as well as a license suspension, is the punishment for a first-time offender.
But creation of fake licenses is an even worse offense. This week, Massachusetts police busted counterfeit license ring, and there are several individuals facing stiff consequences. In a Rhode Island scheme that police said might be related to the Massachusetts ring, a Providence man, Fridnel Lerick, 29, is now serving a one-year sentence for making and selling fake driver's licenses when he was working for the motor vehicle registry in Boston's Chinatown.
Just a year ago, the South County Alcohol Retailers' Summit was held with the help of University of Rhode Island Common Ground, a six-year project geared toward reducing underage alcohol consumption and alcohol-impaired driving. There, owners from more than 15 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in Narragansett and South Kingstown met to discuss harsher punishments for fake IDs and receive special training to help spot fake IDs faster. These places included several local hot spots, including Charlie O's, the Wheelock House and Casey's Grill and Bar.
Since programs like this have been implemented, police in South County have collected hundreds of IDs. In addition to that, police and bar owners are constantly learning new ways to spot "fakies." Using your older brother's or sister's ID won't get you too far, either, as most bouncers are told to look for that.
Why risk the pain of punishment? Yes, falsifying your age may be a rush, but in the end, losing a license and some much-needed cash is quite the deterrent.
There are ways to be involved in the local bar scene without having to be of legal age. There are plenty of 18+ events in local bars, especially fundraising events and philanthropies hosted by URI students.
Going to the bars is a right of passage, but it's considered a monumental event because it comes with the territory of turning 21. The risk of buying a fake may not only empty your pocket, but put a damper on what should be an exciting night of drinking and debauchery … on the night you turn 21.
But the consequences of being caught carrying a fake identification card can be painful. The punishment is not simply being turned away at the door and being embarrassed in front of your friends and peers. Rhode Island law states that a $100 to $250 fine, as well as a license suspension, is the punishment for a first-time offender.
But creation of fake licenses is an even worse offense. This week, Massachusetts police busted counterfeit license ring, and there are several individuals facing stiff consequences. In a Rhode Island scheme that police said might be related to the Massachusetts ring, a Providence man, Fridnel Lerick, 29, is now serving a one-year sentence for making and selling fake driver's licenses when he was working for the motor vehicle registry in Boston's Chinatown.
Just a year ago, the South County Alcohol Retailers' Summit was held with the help of University of Rhode Island Common Ground, a six-year project geared toward reducing underage alcohol consumption and alcohol-impaired driving. There, owners from more than 15 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in Narragansett and South Kingstown met to discuss harsher punishments for fake IDs and receive special training to help spot fake IDs faster. These places included several local hot spots, including Charlie O's, the Wheelock House and Casey's Grill and Bar.
Since programs like this have been implemented, police in South County have collected hundreds of IDs. In addition to that, police and bar owners are constantly learning new ways to spot "fakies." Using your older brother's or sister's ID won't get you too far, either, as most bouncers are told to look for that.
Why risk the pain of punishment? Yes, falsifying your age may be a rush, but in the end, losing a license and some much-needed cash is quite the deterrent.
There are ways to be involved in the local bar scene without having to be of legal age. There are plenty of 18+ events in local bars, especially fundraising events and philanthropies hosted by URI students.
Going to the bars is a right of passage, but it's considered a monumental event because it comes with the territory of turning 21. The risk of buying a fake may not only empty your pocket, but put a damper on what should be an exciting night of drinking and debauchery … on the night you turn 21.