.9 a 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 d 40 %4 N 8867N 18-00 Sss d104UoN d 3 V ) s pnpax - loo " , S 4N S30 TS4;S dS r ,_ Ollomo W 10001, M Wall r A3NOI O f,8V 3Ha U3AI C A A 0 1 .1ROp , 83A73 C 6ufM We I Wgap Rw uedn a3XOIIS NOIi3O8800 XldV f _ K __ ^;_, , . = - _ _ . Fake IDs are easy to obtain with computer programs.