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Syracuse Bars Are Prepared To Spot Fake IDs From Students How Restaurants Check for Fake IDs

By Gabrielle Riles

Adam Martinez:
“Ask questions, generally you want to see the picture matches.. I tend to make small talk and jokes like ‘Oh I been to Michigan before what part of Michigan are you from or where about in California o are you from and see if they respond to that.’”

Gabrielle Riles:
BAR MANAGER, ADAM MARTINEZ HAS A BOOK OF EVERY STATE ID WHICH SHOWS HIS STAFF HOW TO SPOT FAKE ONES FROM THE REAL ONES.

Adam Martinez:
“A lot of the fake IDs are all well done, I think people spend money on trying to get good fake identification.”

Marsha Augustin:
EVERY THREE YEARS, THEIR BARTENDERS TAKE A COURSE TO REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN PREVENTING SALES TO MINORS WITH FAKE IDs.

Adam Martinez:
“Not break the law and do what’s right for our restaurant…we all have jobs, I mean, it’s a serious thing, breaking law serving underage person a lot can happen, bad things can happen to them and I don’t want to be personally responsible for that, morally or just in the business.”

Gabrielle Riles:
ALL BARS ARE STOCKED WITH MANY INGREDIENTS TO MAKE ALCOHOLIC
DRINKS BUT THE MAIN INGREDIENT, A VALID STATE ID, IS NEEDED TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

Marsha Augustin:
BARRY WEISS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AT THE ONONDAGA DISTRICT
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SAYS THE CRACKDOWN COMES MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGOUT THE YEAR WHEN STUDENTS START COLLEGE SO BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD BE MORE VIGILANT.

Barry Weiss:
“Hey we’re stopping it, we’re not going to deal with it or accept it anymore.”

Gabrielle Riles:
BUSINESSES WILL BE FINED UP TO $10,000 PER VIOLATION.
WEISS SAYS IF THE OFFENSE IS REPEATED IT CAN BE BAD FOR BUSINESS.

Barry Weiss:
“they can lose their license.”

Marsha Augustin:
WHEN SERVING ALCOHOL BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK STATE ARE REQUIRED TO ASK FOR ID. NO ID MEANS NO DRINK.

 SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – All bars are stocked with many ingredients to make alcoholic drinks but the main ingredient to stay in business is a valid state ID.

The New York State Liquor Authority and Department of Motor Vehicles are assisting law enforcement in a statewide crackdown of underage drinking and the use of fake IDs.

Alto Cinco in the Westcott area in Syracuse encounters 20 to 30 fake IDs per week from college students and they take it very seriously when they spot one.

“Generally if we ask somebody for an ID and they don’t have valid ID or they feel unsure about using a fake ID they usually order water and then leave,” said the bar manager of Alto Cinco Adam Martinez.

Martinez has a book of every state ID which shows his staff how to spot fake ones.

The staff at Alto Cinco takes a TIPS re-certification course every three years that reteaches the procedures on how to handle a situation when a minor presents a fake ID.

“It gives you more of an advanced training and something to lean on in cases when people are using fake IDs and being served … to prevent legal issues,” Martinez said.

Administrative officer of the Onondaga District Attorney’s office, Barry Weiss , said Central New York being the second highest region in the state to receive the most tickets is a “good thing”.

“That means all the law enforcement agencies are working together making an effort and doing good work,” said Weiss.

Repeat offenders will be fined up to $10,000 per violation and can be arrested.

There is now a mobile app called Intellicheck that businesses can use to scan IDs and check if they are fake.

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