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6B - The Michigan Daily - Weekendllagaziie - Thursday, January 9, 2003
The Michigan Daily - Weekend Iagazie - Thurs
I
You may think you have a good fake; cops and bars disagree
By Rebecca Ramsey
Daily Arts Writer
hX t wouldyu do if you could live the lif of some dy
else ? Woulycyou lie aboT byourself and tefl others a _
cated stories about yourf er, act as f you were this
t er person and try to get away with aything yo wanted to, as
long as your true identity was never to nbe revealed?
a glimpse of the famed wall of shame - the
back wall that is adorned with a multitude of
fake IDs, conveniently located next to the
vodka and whiskey. In fact, the store is so
good at detecting a phony that is does not have
enough room to display the bogus IDs.
"We have bags and bags of those things
downstairs at the store," Josh said. "It really it
kind of funny."
it is always someone under 21.
Contrary to many students' thinking, many
bars, like The Brown Jug, really do try to
accommodate students. Many wait patiently
for verification of an ID and some bars do not
confiscate the phonies. Many of the employ-
ees are or were at some time students, thus
they understand that it is annoying to be
rejected but it is even more annoying to get in
While this question may inspire fantasies
that seem as if they will never be attained, col-
lege students across the country attempt to be
someone else every night. With the assistance
of fake identification, many are driven to
enter the exciting world of someone different
from themselves, even if the motive is to sim-
ply buy a drink or two.
"There really was something very thrilling
about using a false ID; and if you knew how to
get one made, it was easy," said Mike
Gradillas, manager of The Brown Jug. A for-
mer card carrying member of the fake ID gen-
eration -- those who are underage -- Gradillas
many college students to be a game in which
they will never lose or face any penalties. Yet,
clued-in store and bar employees and the
police are learning the difference between a
real ID and a fake and it is becoming more dif-
ficult to cheat.
Getting Past the Door
Once a student has obtained a phony ID,
whether as a hand-me-down gift from an older
sibling or from that guy down the hall in
Markley with the digital camera and scanner,
he or she may be racing to get in line at the
nearest bar.
admits that using a Still, doormen and
fake ID is fun for the store employees are
rush you get if and not excusing the vast
when you get past amounts of students
the bouncer. trying to buy liquor
"I know that when that hail from the
I turned 21, the thrill states of New Jersey
was gone. I think my and Maryland as a
friends and I once phenomenon. False
sneaked beer into a identification is sus-
movie theatre just to pected and employ-
see what would hap- ees at such establish-
pen. To see if it ments are usually
would be as fun as trained and experi-
tricking the bars," enced with apprais-
Gradillas said. ing an identification
Lauren, a junior card's legitimacy.
who wished to have "We started to
her last name with- notice that there
held, is not worried were a lot of stu-
about being rejected 5 dents with New
from a bar, regard- Jersey IDs coming to
less of any stories buy alcohol," stated
she has heard about Josh, an employee of
u n s u c c e s s f u l Village Corner.
attempts. "This was suspi-
"I have never been cious, but we have a
questioned or RYANWEINERDaily book of state IDs
caught, and I guess Village Corner can be treacherous for Yad fake IDs. that we can check to
I'm not worried see if an ID is real or
because I use my older sister's ID and we look not."
alike. I did hear about a girl who lent her Village Corner prides itself as being one of
friend her fake and she got caught, and fined," the toughest places to beat at the University.
Lauren said. Someone trying to purchase alcohol using a
It looks as if beating the bars is perceived by fake ID is certain to think twice once they get
Some are brave « trouble for possess-
enough to contest "When bars get in trouble with ing false identifica-
the higher powers tion.
of the Village the cops, all the other area "Sometimes stu-
Corner and claim barswillge harder on nlb dents are angry at us
that their ID is real. get aI when we deny their
"If we suspect - Matt Gradillas admittance into the
that someone is bar," said Gradillas.
using a fake ID, Manager, The Brown Jug "They are not think-
and they argue that ing that we are ulti-
it is real, they have to wait for a cop to come mately the ones who could really get in trou-
verify it," Josh said. "If it turns out to be false, ble."
they will get a ticket, I think of around $500."
Down the street at The Brown Jug, employ- Facing The Cops
ees give those with suspicious IDs two
options to redeem themselves and their pride. This year, local police have seemed to ran-
"People can either leave and keep their IDs, domly arrive at local bars and catch unassum-
or they can wait and allow us to verify that the ing students with their fakes on hand. Getting
ID is valid," said Gradillas. To be verified, the caught could lead to a possible fine, but the
ID is put to the test, which often means that a blame and punishment rests with the estab-
backup credit card is run through the credit card lishment that served the minor.
machine. A real ID will have a magnetic strip Sgt. Paul Curtis of the Ann Arbor Police
that signifies that the person is actually the per- Department explained that it is routine to
son on the ID and of legal age. check and see if bars and liquor stores are
The bouncers and floormen at bars still have upholding to the law -- and that the responsi-
a job to do, like it or not. Due to the perva- bility lies in their hands.
siveness of fake IDs on campus, and the "In order to check how bars are preventing
potential punishments that a bar faces when underage drinking, we call various establish-
minors somehow get past the door, some bars ments to see if bars are trying to detect false
have implemented a reward system for confis- identification. If bars knowingly serve people
cating IDs. The Brown Jug pays its employees alcohol to those under 21, they face penalty
$10 for each ID they take. While some minors with the Michigan Liquor Control
may think this is wrong and cruel, Gradillas Commission."
explains that this is their duty. According to the MLCC, Michigan liquor
"In all actuality, it's more money than the law expects alcohol vendors to make a "dili-
tip a waiter would get for serving them. gent inquiry" of the customer's age. This
Money is still important and it's still a job." includes 'At least an examination of an offi-
The Brown Jug estimates 4-6 confiscated IDs cial Michigan operator's license or chauffeur's
each week. license ... or any other bona fide picture iden-
Dan, an LSA sophomore, feels that bar tification which establishes the identity and
employees should sympathize with the under- age of the person," (www michigan.gov/cis).
age students and let them inside. When the police inspect a bar, all of the area
"Its not like we are going to harass them bars suddenly become even harder to get into.
once we are in the bar. My friends and I just "When bars get in trouble with the cops, all
want to be able to go to a bar, have a drink and the other area bars will get harder on IDs,"
a good time. Then, we will leave. There's no Gradillas said. "We became tougher this year
harm in that. Besides, they are making good because the cops gave us,warnings. Last year,
money off of us, regardless of our age," he things were fun, we were very crowded all of
said. the time. But, it was out of control."
Gradillas disagrees, saying that if anyone is Those who possess a false identification
going to be causing trouble or making a scene, See FAKE ID Page 8B
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Fake IDs are easy to obtain with computer programs.