New York police look to crack down on fake IDs

Teens have been using false identification for years to attempt to trick store owners and cashiers into letting them purchase alcohol. However, in an effort to curb underage drinking, many law enforcement agencies are beginning to crackdown on this method of deception.

For instance, in Hamilton, New York, law enforcement officials are seeking to stiffen the punishments for minors who try to purchase alcohol with false identification, reports The Madison County Courier.

Law enforcement officials from the area told the news source that minors are forging driver's licenses from other states. In the past these teens would be given a ticket that was equivalent to a traffic citation. However, they now want to punish these offenders to the fullest extent of the law, which is a year in jail or a $1,000 fine.

“It is not OK to commit a crime in New York State,” Rick Gifford, Hamilton Police Chief, told the news source. “In the past it was, oh well, it is just kids trying to buy beer. But students are committing criminal acts under the influence of alcohol.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42 percent of high school students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their lifetime, in 2008.