The World Behind Fake IDs

A night of fun cut short, handcuffs around your wrists and over $4,000: this is the story a University of Tampa student’s fake ID scandal.

And all because of a two inch by three inch laminated sheet of paper.

Mary Smith, whose name has been changed because she asked for anonymity, never knew how much one night could end up costing her.

She says it all began when she was out to dinner with friends and plans suddenly changed.

Everyone decided they wanted to go to the Dallas Bull, a well-known Tampa night spot for country music fans.

She had bought a fake ID from a store who makes them in her hometown, but she didn’t necessarily want to use her fake ID that night because the Dallas Bull was 18 and up.

However, she didn’t have her real ID on her at the time, so she had to use her fake.

“I guess an undercover cop was checking IDs at the door, acting like a bouncer.” Smith said. “When the cop took my ID from me, she looked at it for a minute, but then went straight to her car. The ID had my real name and information on it, so when she ran my name she found out the ID wasn’t real.”

Smith said she was immediately arrested and put into the cop car, along with her friend who had also used a fake ID.

“I was really nervous, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. The ride to the police station was so weird. First they took us to the local station,” Smith said.

Once there, the pair got inside a paddy wagon that held people who were arrested for different things: homeless arrests, prostitution and DUI’s.

Then they were all finally taken to the Hillsborough County Jail.

She waited until she could use her phone call someone to pick her up on bond.

Smith says no one picked her up until nine the next morning and she didn’t sleep a wink. “The girl I was arrested with fell asleep on my lap, but I just couldn’t go to sleep. The night felt really long.”

Later she had to deal with charges and pay fines.

Smith isn’t the only UT student to experience this.

In fact, according to a random survey created specifically for this story that questioned 80 UT students, 64 percent of UT students have or have had a fake ID and among those nearly 25 percent have gotten into some sort of trouble for it.

In addition, 35 percent said most of their friends have or have had a fake ID and 61 percent know someone who got in trouble using a fake ID. (See side panel for more statistics and details of the survey).

Records Manager for the Tampa Police Department Shar Ishee says these kind of fake ID arrests happen all the time. “We have had 439 fraud-impersonation type arrests this year. This includes fake IDs, false names to officers, and the display of a driver’s license of another person. In comparison, we had 556 for the same period last year.”

Lieutenant Tim Berg of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says his branch has arrested quite a few people for using a fake ID. “There have been twenty arrests for fake identifications by all agencies county-wide this year.”

According to a website sponsored by the Alcohol Policy Information Systems, to possess or display a counterfeit or altered driver license or ID card or to use someone else’s driver license or ID card is a third degree felony in the state of Florida.

And if you’re caught, according to Mary Smith, the experience can be really devastating.

“Being in jail was so degrading. I regret that night and I don’t regret many things in my life,” said Smith.

Smith says the repercussions of the night were also hard to handle.

“It was a big hassle,” Smith said.

She was charged for a felony and had to get a lawyer.

Eventually, though, things started settling down.

“I got 12 months probation, even though I was out on nine. I also had to pay a $2,000 fine plus another $2,500 in lawyer’s fees. I ended up with a felony that has since been taken off my record, but I had to do 100 hours community service and participate in a pre-trial intervention program to avoid going to court. The cops even called UT and I had to go through the Conduct Board here. It really sucked.”

An international student, who also provided a false name, said she has a couple fake IDs and continues to use them even though she’s almost gotten into some trouble.

“I don’t really see that me using a fake ID is breaking the law. When I visit family in Canada I can drink. When I’m back home on my island I can drink as well. I come here to the states and I can’t. What sense does that make?” Anderson said.

Although she’s been denied entry to places before, the main reason Anderson has been rejected is because the ID isn’t an American one.

More often than not, however, she has no trouble getting into 21 and up places.

“Sometimes when a bouncer looks at my ID, he’ll say something like, ‘you’re way prettier than that girl’ and let me go right in,” Anderson said.

Anderson thinks that underage students need to use their heads when getting fakes.

“If kids using fake IDs were smart, they’d get an ID from Canada. There are a few snowbirds down here in Florida, but other than them, no one knows what a Canadian ID looks like, especially in the rural areas of Canada,” said Anderson.

Associate Dean of Students Gina Firth says, although she doesn’t condone the usage of fake IDs, she understands the students’ perspective.

“I understand why people want to use fakes, but there are just too many ramifications if you were to get into trouble. Post 9/11 it’s a different world.
Identification is much more important than it used to be, and a poor choice of using someone else’s ID today could interfere with your goals of tomorrow.”
One downtown Tampa bouncer agrees.

“I’ve seen a lot of fake IDs in my time, especially more recently. They are becoming more and more common and us bouncers are having to crack down more,” he said.

He works at The Retreat, a bar right across from The University of Tampa campus.

“The bar can lose its alcohol license or even be shut down, and I can lose my job if we get in trouble for letting too many underage people in. It’s a serious matter now.”

Jocie Klemes, a UT junior, realized the severity of using a fake ID two years ago when she used hers at a club in Ybor called Churchill’s.

She easily got into the club and even ordered a drink at the bar.

It was when she attempted to go to an upper-level that another man asked to see her ID.

“I had no idea he was an undercover cop. He asked to go through my bag and I wouldn’t let him. Finally he showed me his badge and then took me outside,” said Klemes.

While outside, Klemes said that other undercover cops began to interrogate her about where she got the ID.

A freshman at the time and only three weeks into school, Klemes felt vulnerable and attacked by the officers. “I clearly remember a woman officer waving handcuffs in my face and saying she was going to put them on me if I didn’t give her more information.”

They asked what she was studying in school and she told them she wanted to be a teacher.

The woman officer said she would never be a teacher with this on her record. “I was devasted,” Klemes said.

The police ended up charging her with a felony for possessing a fake ID and a misdemanor for holding an alcoholic beverage underage.

She hired a lawyer, costing her over $1000, and the felony was dropped.

She still had to pay over $500 in misdemeanor fines and go to the Salvation Army in downtown Tampa every month for five months to do community service.

As for where these UT students obtained their fake IDs, the results from the survey were relatively scattered.

According to the survey, 38 percent got their fake ID from a friend and 27 percent got one through their older sibling.

A combined thirty-five percent either ordered one from a friend or went to a city to get a fake ID made, with 21 percent of students paying $100-150 for the fake ID.

As for Anderson, she obtained her fake ID for free while visiting family in Canada.

A friend of the family made it for her.

Due to his profession as an inventor, he had possession of government documents which had the necessary seals to make very convincing fake IDs.

Nonetheless, since its considered a third-degree felony, it has the same punishments as aggrivated assault or possessing a concealed weapon, leading to up to five years in jail and $5,000 in fines.

So, the next time you go into a bar, club or liquor store, take a good look around.
There’s no doubt that many of the people you see got in using a fake ID.

But, from what people say, it’s either get a fake or stay in all night while your friends go out partying.

What is certain is that as long as there are limitations on drinking, there are going to be people willing to break the rules.

In fact, still under 21, Mary Smith says she still uses her fake despite everything she went through: “Yeah, I still use my fake. I guess that’s kinda bad.”

Penalties and Consequences for Possessing/Using a Fake ID in Florida
To possess or display a counterfeit or altered driver license or I.D. card; use of someone else’s driver license or I.D. card; or apply for driver license or I.D. card at a Driver License Bureau is a felony in the third degree in the state of Florida. Other felonies in the third degree include aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance or carrying a concealed firearm.

The consequences can include but are not limited to fines of up to $5,000 and up to five years in prison. If found convicted of a felony, it cannot be removed from your record. (Source: Alcohol Policy Information System: http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/).

Penalties and Consequences for Having Alcohol Underage in Florida
If caught holding or possessing an alcoholic beverage underage the consequence is a misdemeanor. The penalties for a misdemeanor can include but is not limited to community service hours, extensive fines, court hearings, and even jail time.

In the state of Florida a person’s first misdemeanor can be removed from their record if they complete the misdemeanor intervention program (MIP), which includes many fines and community service hours. After the second misdemeanor it remains on your record. For more information on the MIP visit http://www.salvationarmyflorida.org/.(Source: http://www.myfloridadefenselawyer.com/).

Penalties and Consequences for Possessing/Using a Fake ID at UT
If put through The University of Tampa conduct board for using a fake id, you could be charged on Article One for not meeting the Spartan Code and Article Five for “the possession, use, manufacture or sale of falsified government issued or altered identification cards (UT Student Rights and Responsibilities).”
Depending on if there are other charges brought on you, other than the fake ID, it will differ on what consequence the student would face.

According to several UT students who got in trouble with underage drinking and fake IDs, their consequences were a $75 fine to The University of Tampa and ten community service hours for an organization related to alcohol (like Mother’s against drunk driving). These consequences were only for violating UT rules and codes; they still had their legal punishments on top of this.
(Source: http://www.ut.edu/detail.aspx?id=3992#1)