An influx of fake IDs from overseas聽has prompted a crackdown by the Arlington County Police Department.
ACPD聽says it recently started 鈥渁 high-visibility underage drinking enforcement and education campaign聽designed to curb the use of fake IDs by underage individuals.鈥� The campaign is targeting the busy Clarendon bar district on聽weekends.
鈥淥ver the last month or so, a number of fake IDs 鈥� originating from overseas online shops 鈥� have been turned into police by Clarendon businesses,鈥� explained ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage. 鈥淭his initiative was developed to address this issue.鈥�
鈥淭his is a newer initiative but it鈥檚 been going on for about a month,鈥� Savage continued. 鈥淲e have a great working relationship with the business owners in Clarendon and this is just one more step we can take to continue to make Clarendon a safe area at night. The initiative will be going on this weekend鈥� [and]聽will be part of the regular duties of the officers working our Clarendon detail on Friday and Saturday nights.鈥�
Savage said the campaign includes enforcement,聽signboards placed around Clarendon and social media outreach. (The department will be from Clarendon on Friday night.)
鈥淲e encourage people to enjoy the nightlife Arlington has to offer but do so responsibly 鈥� and that includes waiting until you reach the legal drinking age of 21,鈥� said Savage.
The full press release issued by ACPD聽this afternoon聽is below.
The Arlington County Police Department will conduct a high-visibility underage drinking enforcement and education campaign designed to curb the use of fake IDs by underage individuals. These efforts aim to deter those underage individuals from abusing alcohol and driving while impaired.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, those under the legal drinking age are at a far greater risk of death in an alcohol-related crash than the overall population, despite the fact that they cannot legally purchase or publicly possess alcohol in any state. That鈥檚 why the Arlington County Police Department is reminding underage individuals to think before they drink; underage drinking comes with adult consequences.
Throughout the summer, officers will work with our Clarendon business partners to authenticate identification documents and identify fake IDs used by underage individuals to purchase alcohol and gain access to bars. Individuals using another person鈥檚 driver鈥檚 license, altering their own driver鈥檚 license or reproducing a fake ID may be charged with violation of Virginia Code 搂18.2-204.2 Possession of a false identification, a Class 2 Misdemeanor and punishable up to 6 months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine and/or Virginia Code 搂18.2-186.3 Identity Theft, a Class 1 Misdemeanor punishable up to 12 months in jail and up to a $2,550 fine.
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