Like states across the nation, Washington is trying to meet the challenge of more fraudulent IDs whether presented in person or by digital image. Many of these fake IDs come from counterfeiters located overseas with sophisticated equipment. As stories below illustrate, fake identification is getting easier to obtain in Washington and is often associated with illegal alcohol purchases by minors and financial fraud.
- Age to consume: 21 - Age to serve: 18 - Age to pour: 21 - Age to sell (packaged liquor): 18 - Minors allowed on premise? Minors are not permitted in taverns or cocktail lounges. Drivers under 21 years old are subject to loss of their driver’s license if their BAC is .02 or more. Minors are not allowed to consume alcohol either on or off a licensed premise. - Penalties for serving or selling to a minor: Gross misdemeanor punishable by up to $5000 fine and/or up to 1 year imprisonment.
For law enforcement officers, bank tellers, car rental agents, human resources professionals and others who must verify ID in a professional capacity, the recent surge in fake IDs is challenging. The liability and losses that result from accepting a fake ID are large. The I.D. Checking Guide assists in the ID verification process by showing what an actual, valid ID looks like at full-size, and highlights the details of the licenses, making it much easier to spot the fraud. Before approving an expensive car rental, opening a new bank account or hiring a new employee, make sure the driver’s license or ID card has the correct numbering, UV, microprint, ghost images, expiration, and other details that counterfeiters often miss.