W hat would you do if you could live the life of somebody else? Would you lie about yourself and tell others fabricated stories about your life? Or, act as if you were this other person and try to get away with anything you wanted to, as long as your true identity was never to be revealed?
- Paul Wong
- RYAN WEINER/Daily
Fake IDs are easy to obtain with computer programs.
While this question may inspire fantasies that seem as if they will never be attained, college students across the country attempt to be someone else every night. With the assistance of fake identification, many are driven to enter the exciting world of someone different from themselves, even if the motive is to simply buy a drink or two.
“There really was something very thrilling about using a false ID; and if you knew how to get one made, it was easy,” said Mike Gradillas, manager of The Brown Jug. A former card carrying member of the fake ID generation — those who are underage — Gradillas admits that using a fake ID is fun for the rush you get if and when you get past the bouncer.
“I know that when I turned 21, the thrill was gone. I think my friends and I once sneaked beer into a movie theatre just to see what would happen. To see if it would be as fun as tricking the bars,” Gradillas said.
Lauren, a junior who wished to have her last name withheld, is not worried about being rejected from a bar, regardless of any stories she has heard about unsuccessful attempts.
“I have never been questioned or caught, and I guess I’m not worried because I use my older sister’s ID and we look alike. I did hear about a girl who lent her friend her fake and she got caught, and fined,” Lauren said.
It looks as if beating the bars is perceived by many college students to be a game in which they will never lose or face any penalties. Yet, clued-in store and bar employees and the police are learning the difference between a real ID and a fake and it is becoming more difficult to cheat.
Getting Past the Door
Once a student has obtained a phony ID, whether as a hand-me-down gift from an older sibling or from that guy down the hall in Markley with the digital camera and scanner, he or she may be racing to get in line at the nearest bar.
Still, doormen and store employees are not excusing the vast amounts of students trying to buy liquor that hail from the states of New Jersey and Maryland as a phenomenon. False identification is suspected and employees at such establishments are usually trained and experienced with appraising an identification card’s legitimacy.
“We started to notice that there were a lot of students with New Jersey IDs coming to buy alcohol,” stated Josh, an employee of Village Corner. “This was suspicious, but we have a book of state IDs that we can check to see if an ID is real or not.”
Village Corner prides itself as being one of the toughest places to beat at the University. Someone trying to purchase alcohol using a fake ID is certain to think twice once they get a glimpse of the famed wall of shame – the back wall that is adorned with a multitude of fake IDs, conveniently located next to the vodka and whiskey. In fact, the store is so good at detecting a phony that is does not have enough room to display the bogus IDs.
“We have bags and bags of those things downstairs at the store,” Josh said. “It really it kind of funny.”
Some are brave enough to contest the higher powers of the Village Corner and claim that their ID is real.
“If we suspect that someone is using a fake ID, and they argue that it is real, they have to wait for a cop to come verify it,” Josh said. “If it turns out to be false, they will get a ticket, I think of around $500.”
Down the street at The Brown Jug, employees give those with suspicious IDs two options to redeem themselves and their pride.
“People can either leave and keep their IDs, or they can wait and allow us to verify that the ID is valid,” said Gradillas. To be verified, the ID is put to the test, which often means that a backup credit card is run through the credit card machine. A real ID will have a magnetic strip that signifies that the person is actually the person on the ID and of legal age.
The bouncers and floormen at bars still have a job to do, like it or not. Due to the pervasiveness of fake IDs on campus, and the potential punishments that a bar faces when minors somehow get past the door, some bars have implemented a reward system for confiscating IDs. The Brown Jug pays its employees $10 for each ID they take. While some minors may think this is wrong and cruel, Gradillas explains that this is their duty.
“In all actuality, it’s more money than the tip a waiter would get for serving them. Money is still important and it’s still a job.” The Brown Jug estimates 4-6 confiscated IDs each week.
Dan, an LSA sophomore, feels that bar employees should sympathize with the underage students and let them inside.
“Its not like we are going to harass them once we are in the bar. My friends and I just want to be able to go to a bar, have a drink and a good time. Then, we will leave. There’s no harm in that. Besides, they are making good money off of us, regardless of our age,” he said.
Gradillas disagrees, saying that if anyone is going to be causing trouble or making a scene, it is always someone under 21.
Contrary to many students’ thinking, many bars, like The Brown Jug, really do try to accommodate students. Many wait patiently for verification of an ID and some bars do not confiscate the phonies. Many of the employees are or were at some time students, thus they understand that it is annoying to be rejected but it is even more annoying to get in trouble for possessing false identification.
“Sometimes students are angry at us when we deny their admittance into the bar,” said Gradillas. “They are not thinking that we are ultimately the ones who could really get in trouble.”
Facing The Cops
This year, local police have seemed to randomly arrive at local bars and catch unassuming students with their fakes on hand. Getting caught could lead to a possible fine, but the blame and punishment rests with the establishment that served the minor.
Sgt. Paul Curtis of the Ann Arbor Police Department explained that it is routine to check and see if bars and liquor stores are upholding to the law — and that the responsibility lies in their hands.
“In order to check how bars are preventing underage drinking, we call various establishments to see if bars are trying to detect false identification. If bars knowingly serve people alcohol to those under 21, they face penalty with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.”
According to the MLCC, Michigan liquor law expects alcohol vendors to make a “diligent inquiry” of the customer’s age. This includes ‘At least an examination of an official Michigan operator’s license or chauffeur’s license … or any other bona fide picture identification which establishes the identity and age of the person,” (www.michigan.gov/cis).
When the police inspect a bar, all of the area bars suddenly become even harder to get into.
“When bars get in trouble with the cops, all the other area bars will get harder on IDs,” Gradillas said. “We became tougher this year because the cops gave us warnings. Last year, things were fun, we were very crowded all of the time. But, it was out of control.”
Those who possess a false identification card should know that they also face punishment if caught by the cops. Many people may already know this, but the punishment may be unclear.
“People with fake IDs are usually just kids trying to get liquor,” Sgt. Curtis said. “Having a false ID is different than different than identity theft. It’s completely different than trying to be a someone else and trying to wreak havoc on their banking and credit card accounts, but it still warrants a punishment.”
“There are different ordinances for different cities. As far as Ann Arbor is concerned, there is a 30-day misdemeanor, which means that someone could go to jail for 30 days, and a fine of $100.” Sgt. Curtis warns that if this fine may not seem like a lot, someone who gets caught should expect to pay much more for a lawyer, court fees and other appropriations. Also, misdemeanors will stay on one’s record, which could make it exceptionally unfavorable to a graduate school admissions officer.
Win, Lose or Draw
When it comes down to plans for the weekend, many relentless students may still opt to take their fake ID and press their luck at the bar. The common reasoning is that there is not much to do in Ann Arbor.
Jenna Golden, an LSA sophomore bemoaned the University’s lackluster social scene.
“There’s nothing to do here, especially since the frat scene has died,” she said with a cringe. “I told my friends that go to Maryland that if I didn’t have my fake ID, I would not have a social life here. I wouldn’t know what to do.”card should know that they also face punishment if caught by the police. Many people may already know this, but the punishment may be unclear.
“People with fake IDs are usually just kids trying to get liquor,” Sgt. Curtis said. “Having a false ID is different than identity theft. It’s completely different than trying to be a someone else and trying to wreak havoc on their banking and credit card accounts, but it still warrants a punishment.”
“There are different ordinances for different cities. As far as Ann Arbor is concerned, there is a 30-day misdemeanor, which means that someone could go to jail for 30 days, and a fine of $100.” Sgt. Curtis warns that if this fine may not seem like a lot, someone who gets caught should expect to pay much more for a lawyer, court fees and other associated costs. Also, misdemeanors will stay on one’s record, which could make it exceptionally unfavorable to a graduate school admissions officer.
Win, Lose or Draw
When it comes down to plans for the weekend, many relentless students may still opt to take their fake ID and press their luck at the bar. The common reasoning is that there is not much to do in Ann Arbor.
Jenna Golden, an LSA sophomore bemoaned the University’s lackluster social scene.
“There’s nothing to do here, especially since the frat scene has died,” she said with a cringe. “I told my friends that go to Maryland that if I didn’t have my fake ID, I would not have a social life here. I wouldn’t know what to do.”