A summer-long crackdown on the use of fake IDs to purchase alcohol at concert venues statewide is now underway. Operation Prevent is led by New York State Department of Motor Vehicle investigators to prevent underage drinking or worse—drinking and driving. They will work closely with investigators from the State Liquor Authority, State Police, State Parks Police, and local law enforcement at venues across the state throughout the summer concert season.
The underage drinking enforcement details began on June 13 and will continue through September 17. In total, 28 underage drinking enforcement details are scheduled at concert venues across the state during that time.
“Our investigators are well-trained to spot fake IDs, and we have added security measures that make our licenses and non-driver IDs increasingly difficult to counterfeit,” Mark J.F. Schroeder, DMV Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, said. “You may think we’re trying to spoil your fun, but it is not fun to end up in a hospital, a jail or a morgue from a night spent drinking when you’re underage.”
Acquiring a fake ID can also increase a person’s vulnerability to identity theft. And beyond the risk to traffic safety, underage drinking can pose serious risks to a young person’s health and development.
Last year, more than 550 people received tickets during the seasonal crackdown on the use of fake identification to purchase alcohol. A total of 580 fake documents were seized. There were 505 tickets issued for attempting to use fake IDs, and another 46 tickets for violations of the Alcohol Beverage and Control Law.
