HUNTSVILLE, AL - Hampton Cove store owners say they've seen an increase in the number of fake ID's circulating among area teenagers. They say the ID's are good and its getting more difficult to tell the real IDs from the fake ones.
Shah Emami is the co-owner of Mary's Grocery off Highway 431. He says the internet is making it easier than ever for teenagers to get a hold of a believable ID.
"You have to be cautious, as a store owner. You have to be cautious because these days this young generation will try anything to get away with it," says Emami.
In some cases, getting a hold of a fake ID can spell trouble for teens and the drivers around them. Huntsville Police spokesperson Harry Hobbs says he's seen it time and time again.
"What we're finding is in a lot of the accidents with these young folks, is that drinking is involved. A lot of times they are getting this alcohol by using a fake I-D," says Hobbs.
These days, getting a fake ID is just a few clicks away. Online "novelty ID" sites allow you to input your information, upload a picture and a few hundred dollars later, you're of age to buy alcohol. But police say even if the ID has your name and picture, its still a crime to possess.
Hobbs says, "It is still a fake document. It is listed as a class c felony."
That felony carries with it a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars. Store owners can also face stiff penalties if caught selling alcohol to underage teens. For some, just one form of ID is no longer enough.
"I don't want to go to jail you know. So if they look young then we ask for a second form of identification," says Emami.
