Cracking Down on Fake IDs

          For many years, the fake ID industry has thrived both in the US and overseas. People under the age of 21 have acquired fake IDs in order to buy alcohol and to get into bars with their friends. Fake Ids have also been used by people who want to change their identity and potentially commit terrorist acts. The State of New York and North Carolina have recently come up with new technology that will make forging a license almost impossible. According to an article that appeared in the New York Times: Black and White and Wallet-size, unfit for Faking, the new licenses will be issued on hard polycarbonate cards that are closer to a CD than the flexible plastic licenses that we have today. It is claimed that while the new license technology might look old school with it's black and white photograph, the production method is almost impossible to forge. These license are engraved and contain multiple features that a re both seen and unseen. These licenses will also be a little more expensive to produce. In 2012, the Department of Motor Vehicles collected over 1,450 counterfeit drivers licenses in underage drinking stings alone. Overseas forgers have smuggled in false IDs in the soles of imported shoes.

       While I was aware that underage people purchase false IDs in order  to buy alcohol, I was surprised to learn that fake IDs are being used for even more dangerous criminal behavior. I think that the new licensing techniques will make it harder to produce "fakes" and will keep this country safer as a whole. An entire criminal industry will also be shut down once licenses can no longer be reproduced. I will be very interested to see how many more states will follow New York and North Carolina's lead.