Governor Hochul Announces More than 550 Charged in Crackdown on Fake IDs and Underage Drinking

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that more than 550 people received tickets during the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles' seasonal crackdown on the use of fake identification to purchase alcoholic beverages. The Operation Prevent enforcement campaign largely focuses on concert venues, where young people often try to use fake IDs to buy alcohol. DMV investigators work with the venues and local law enforcement to deter underage drinking and the potential for impaired driving that can result from it.

"New York has so many wonderful venues for live music, and we want people to enjoy them safely," Governor Hochul said. "By ramping up our enforcement efforts, we will help prevent underage New Yorkers from purchasing alcohol and lower the risk of driving while intoxicated. The safety of our young people is paramount, and I am grateful to the Department of Motor Vehicles and its partners for their efforts to help ensure the safety of New Yorkers."

Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "DMV investigators are experts in spotting fake IDs and use state of the art equipment to validate the authenticity of an ID, so fakes are not worth buying. If you're under 21, we urge you to just enjoy the music and don't risk your life, your safety and the safety of others by consuming alcohol."

State Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley said, "Underage drinking can lead to reckless behavior that can result in dangerous, lifelong consequences. By working with our partners in the DMV and local law enforcement, the SLA has remained committed to keeping alcohol out of the hands of underage youth.  Working collaboratively this summer, we have continued our mission to discourage both businesses from selling to minors as well as young New Yorkers from attempting to purchase alcohol using fake IDs."  

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, "Underage drinking can result in multiple health problems for young people, including a greater risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life. We must continue engaging in these prevention efforts to help keep young people safe."

DMV investigators are trained and use sophisticated equipment to scan and detect fraudulent IDs. During the summer enforcement campaign, 580 fake documents were seized. A total of 505 tickets were issued for attempting to use fake IDs, and another 46 tickets were issued for violations of the Alcohol Beverage and Control Law.

Citations and fake ID seizures by region include:

New Yorkers struggling with addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).  

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports website. 

For more information about DMV, follow DMV on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.