ORONO, Maine — A number of underage Orono residents recently have been caught with fake identification cards — including two charged this week, police Capt. Josh Ewing said Friday.
Fake IDs are not uncommon in college towns, but Orono is seeing a lot more than normal, he said.
“We had a bunch in the fall and we’re starting to see them again this spring,” Ewing said.
Last fall a large number of fake IDs surfaced in Orono — many made online — and local store, bar and restaurant employees were good at spotting them, Ewing said.
That continues, he said, noting that local employees helped track down those who broke the law this week.
Abigail Davis, 19, of Orono attempted to use a fake ID to get into The Roost on Mill Street about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday and left the identification card with the door person, who turned it over to police, Ewing said.
Brian O’Leary, 19, of Orono had an expired identification card that belonged to someone else that he tried to use to buy alcohol at Thriftway about 11 p.m. Thursday, the police captain said. O’Leary left the card with a store employee who questioned its authenticity and departed in a borrowed car that was traced to him, Ewing said.
Both Davis and O’Leary were charged with possession of a falsified identification, Ewing said.
Does this surprise anyone?
When I was in in college the drinking age was 18, we stayed out of our cars and had keg parties at college facilities. These kids are driving to get the liquor and bringing it back to campus anyway. They are going to drink if they want to.
It was 21 one for me. However I had no shortage of friends that would buy for me. Also the bar across the street from where I went to school never had anyone checking ID at the door and never at the bar was I asked nor by a cocktail waitress. Its kind of funny as I was 19 at the time and when I look at pictures of me back then I think that I have the look of a 12 year old.
Remember to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong. Sometime in your life you will have been all of these.We have all been that age, let them be and let experience teach them.
College town, fake ID’s, who would of thunk it….
There is a book that is provided by the Secretary of State that drinking establishments have access too. It shows pictures of every type of ID in the USA from each states drivers license up to Green Cards and Native American Tribal Documents. It explains what features to look for on the id to ensure it is authentic. I have seen this same book on the desk of bank customer account managers as well.
If you are going to try to buy with a fake ID at least make sure it is not expired.
Equally exciting-my pot roast will be done in 35 minutes.
If kids are going to drink they will find away. But look at all the money the state is making on all these alcohol crimes.
Alternative headline: “If you are the kid in Orono selling fake ID’s to freshmen, you should stop since the cops are on to you.”
Making this a useful PSA ?
Wicked cool.
Love that thinking.
James Pilson – 295 Beach Ave. – Gorham, ME
lets give the kids arrest records for things there parents and teachers showed them