BU students know fake ID penalties, but use them anyway

FakeID

Despite the dangers, many Boston College students said they used best fake IDs to get into clubs and buy alcohol.

BU Representative Colin Riley said students convicted of possessing a fake driver’s license could face a $300 fine, five years in prison or a six-month license suspension. That’s what BUPD Det said, assuming a substitute student is found to be in possession of a fake id card, the Boston College Police Department will notify the workplace of legal commitments and possibly bring criminal charges against the substitute student, at which point he will be taken to court. Patrick Nuzzi.

Nuzzi said most students were aware of the penalties for counterfeiting a driver’s license, but they were actually taking a risk. Nuzzi said students accused of providing or possessing a false driver’s license could be charged with a crime.

Students can also obtain other forms of scannable fake id versions. Nuzzi said students face criminal charges if found to have these types of fake IDs, often resulting in extended local administrative time. Still, most bars and clubs don’t recognize these types of IDs.

While the penalties are heavy, fake IDs and driver’s licenses are not difficult to track down, the researchers said.

“Everyone realizes that someone can get a [scannable fake id],” said Luke Westlake, an elementary school student in the School of Expression and Science. “They’re either doing it without the help of others, or they know someone who can.”

Fake IDs can cost anywhere from $10 to $200, depending on the quality, Westreick said. In any case, the cost of a fake driver’s license “depends on the fact that you are so connected to the person who made the ID,” he said.

Students said it was normal and reasonable to use scannable fake ids.

“The vast majority of people I know use another person’s ID,” said CAS elementary school student Jessica Shaw. “If you’re under 18, you should have the option to buy alcohol or go to a club.”

Still, some students said the gamble was too perfect.

“There are other ways [to get into the club],” said Green Bean Rachel Pugh of the Institute of Communications.

Different restrictions make id card fake harder to use. COM rookie Julie Farrer said many places in Boston won’t actually recognize New York or New Jersey driver’s licenses because they’re not that hard to fake. The Massachusetts driver’s license changed last year so drivers under the age of 21 put all the data on the card on the top rather than the horizontal, Farrer said. The license also has the holographic structure of the Massachusetts logo, so it cannot be counterfeited.