FAKE ID CRACKDOWN IN WORKS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 23, 1992                   TAG: 9202230132
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
FAKE ID CRACKDOWN IN WORKS
Two state agencies are combining to crack down on young people who use fake identification to buy alcohol.
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Department of Motor Vehicles won a joint $75,000 grant from the federal government that will pay for the stepped-up effort.
The National Highway Transportation Administration grant will set up teams of undercover ABC agents and DMV investigators statewide, ABC Board member Robert Colvin said.
"We hope to have it up and running by April 1," he said. "This is something we are very concerned about."
The DMV is participating because of alarming statistics linking underage drinking to traffic accidents and death, DMV spokeswoman Edith White said.
During 1990, there were 64 people ages 15 to 19 killed in alcohol-related vehicle crashes in the state. In addition, 2,660 people ages 15 to 19 were injured in alcohol-related crashes, White said.
"The use of fake IDs to purchase alcohol leads to increased drinking and driving" by underage consumers, White said. "We want to prevent that."
Colvin said teams will fan out to state ABC stores, convenience stores, groceries, bars and restaurants to check the authenticity of IDs. Agents will intervene immediately and try to determine the source of the faked document.
In the past, the ABC board has cracked down on merchants who knowingly or unknowingly sold alcohol to people presenting fake IDs. Merchants say some fake IDs are so good they cannot be detected.
Merchants "say we haven't concentrated on the people who present fake IDs," Colvin said. "Their point is well-taken."
Manufacturing or selling a false ID card is a misdemeanor carrying up to a $2,500 fine, 12 months in jail or both.
Using a false ID card to buy alcoholic beverages is a misdemeanor carrying up to a $250 fine and mandatory loss of a driver's license for up to a year.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB