Best Line of Defense Against Fake IDs

As Chief of Police and a CTAD Board Member, I feel it is our responsibility to provide parents and students with information to make healthy decisions. While our job is to enforce the laws, we also want to provide education on avoiding some of the dangerous pitfalls that exist for our youth. Students who use fake IDs are more likely to get into trouble with drugs and alcohol than their counterparts. In my letter to parents, I discuss what every parent should know about fake IDs.

Here are a few tips to deter your child from getting a fake ID:

• Follow the money. Whether your child is in high school or college, if you’re helping with expenses, you have the right to know where the money is going. By asking your child regularly for receipts or bank statements, you can catch a large expense like the purchase of a fake ID, which can cost $150 or more. 

• Know your child’s friends. Make sure you invite your child’s friends to family dinners or movie nights so you can get an idea of who they are and what their interests are. Trust your instincts!

• Don’t be afraid to keep tabs on your child. Ask your child to call frequently when they are out, especially if you suspect some of their friends may make questionable decisions. Over time, these kids will find other friends without as much parental involvement.

• Don’t turn a blind eye to underage drinking. Although it’s considered a rite of passage in some circles, drinking under the age of 21 is an illegal activity and can set your child up for addiction that lasts a lifetime. In Illinois, using someone else’s ID, possessing an ID with false information, or lending someone else an ID card is punishable with up to one year in jail or up to $2500 in fines. Under 21? The Bottom Line on Fake IDs outlines the legal consequences for underage teens.

Fake IDs don’t have to be a part of the high school or college experience. Talk to your child often about the effects of alcohol, hold your child accountable, connect with other parents, and do what you can to discourage the use of a fake ID. The bottom line is that parental guidance is the best defense. Chief Ron PriceVillage of Bannockburn Police Department & CTAD Coalition Board Member

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The good news is that 68% of students at Deerfield and Highland Park High Schools report they do not drink alcohol.* Unfortunately, this percentage is lower than it was in previous years. As Chief Price discusses above, one way some students get alcohol is through the use of fake IDs. Students with a fake ID may purchase alcohol for themselves, their friends, or perhaps for a party. How much of a problem are fake IDs in our community? Almost 1 out of 10 DHS & HPHS students (9%) report owning a fake ID, and more than half of those (5%) report using it to purchase alcohol. With these numbers, it is quite possible your child knows someone with a fake ID. To be your child’s “best defense,” as Chief Price recommends, consider asking them about it and sharing your concerns .

* Data according Illinois Youth Survey conducted March 2018 with 2,793 students at Deerfield & Highland Park High Schools. Alcohol non-use rate based on those who report no alcohol use in the past 30 days.