Coachella Festival: Over 350 Fake IDs Confiscated By Security
There were a lot of underage people that reportedly tried to buy alcoholic beverages with fake IDs at the Coachella Music Festival last weekend.
According to TMZ, 354 fake IDs were confiscated and collected by security guards throughout the entire first weekend of one of the most popular music festivals of the year.
Coachella Crackdown — Hundreds of Fake IDs Seized http://t.co/ropOA1PaUw
— TMZ (@TMZ) April 16, 2015
All of the fake IDs collected were later submitted to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. TMZ reports that the department will study and examine the fake IDs that were used for investigative purposes.
Doing so will allow them to specifically identify and target the best quality counterfeit identification cards for research purposes, focusing more on improving their prevention efforts and programs.
The department’s official website outlines the punishments and penalties associated with underage people using a fake identification card to purchase alcoholic beverages.
If an underage person (such as a teenager) tries to buy alcohol, the penalty includes up to 32 hours of community service and a maximum $100 fine. If they have a driver’s license, it would be suspended for one year. Even if they have a driver’s license, they would be required to wait an additional year to obtain one.
According to the website, the penalties and fines are even more intense if the person is caught with a fake ID.
“The penalty is a minimum $250 fine and/or 24-32 hours of community service or a maximum $1,000 fine and/or six months in the county jail, plus…a one year suspension of your driver license.”
With over 350 fake IDs confiscated last weekend, time will only tell how many IDs will end up in the security team’s possession by the end of the second and final weekend of the festival.
This year, a swelling program of electronic music threatened to take over @coachella: http://t.co/OmPUqt1w5c pic.twitter.com/1b3ibsLmlH
— THUMP (@thumpthump) April 13, 2015
what gets lost more at Coachella, fake IDs or coin necklaces?
— Sam Fazz (@SamFazz) April 11, 2015
They confiscated about 354 fake ids at coachella — DianaEsther (@OohDoll) April 16, 2015
According to USA Today, fake IDs might be a bigger problem in the U.S. than underage drinking in general.
As mentioned, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control enforces strict penalties and punishments for attempting to use false identification to purchase alcohol.
However, TMZ reports that none of the festival attendees that used the fake IDs would likely be prosecuted for their actions.
[Image Credit: TMZ]
