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NY State: Record Number Of Fake IDs Seized In 2018

WAMC photo by Dave Lucas

State officials say ongoing efforts to crack down on fake identifications being used to illegally purchase alcohol in New York resulted in a record number of bogus ID seizures last year.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state seized 892 of the fake documents as part of Operation Prevent in 2018, up from 814 the previous year. The Democrat says New York state has zero tolerance for underage drinking and will continue to conduct enforcement efforts to catch people who break beverage control laws.

The year-round compliance efforts led by investigators from the Department of Motor Vehicles target concert venues, bars, restaurants and stores where alcohol is sold.

Officials say of the nearly 900 fake IDs seized last year, more than a third were confiscated at locations in western New York.

© 2019 AP

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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