Following the implementation of new ID check technology, the Boise Police Department (BPD) confiscated over 100 fake IDs in just three days.
“We’re dealing with significant increases in concerning calls for service around the university this year versus last year,” said Cameron Kolos, alcohol compliance officer. “We’re increasing law enforcement as a result.”
Kolos said his team acquired the enhanced technology from a trusted law enforcement source and distributed it to the three convenience stores near campus.
“I’ve done a lot of work with different vendors out there, and there’s a lot of stuff out there that doesn’t really work,” Kolos said. “This is just a product that we use, and that we have vetted and that works pretty well.”
Kolos is in contact with several other local businesses across the Treasure Valley to discuss the issue and implement the technology, noting that most reached out on their own in search of a solution.
Lieutenant Chris Davis with BPD explained the new technology connects stores to a national database of IDs after scanning, making the process for identifying false IDs easier.
“A lot of the [current] scanner technology is not up to date,” Davis said. “That software is not connected to the database to be able to run those actual IDs.”
In late September, students received an email from the Dean of Students with the subject line “Fake IDs aren’t worth the risk”.
“Fake IDs carry legal consequences, but also increase the chance of unsafe situations around alcohol and social events,” the email read. “We urge you to make safe, legal choices that don’t jeopardize your education.”
Kolos mentioned that the police department has a contract with Boise State, requiring him to share information regarding students’ underage drinking with the Office of the Dean of Students.
Kate Law, assistant dean of students, added that their office has been coordinating with Kolos for 18 months.
“[Kolos has] done a lot more of the work in the alcohol compliance space,” Law said. “As he’s been running, there has been more of a relationship with the university and [more of] us assisting in the educational opportunity of the illegal behavior.”
When Kolos identifies someone with a fake ID, his office will relay the information to Public Safety to determine if the ID matches a registered student’s name. From there, the data is passed down to the Office of the Dean of Students.
When the office receives enough information to charge a student, the student will receive an email notifying them of the violation and inviting them to address it.
“We will assess whether we think that a violation has occurred according to the preponderance of evidence, and we will impose a finding based on that,” Law said.
As for the confiscated fake IDs, Davis said once they’re in the police’s possession, they are typically destroyed. Davis noted there is often no use in attempting to locate the owner, as the information on the ID is likely fake, so they would only be going by a photo.
“They are purchasing them from overseas, typically from China,” Kolos said. “[Students are essentially] sharing information with China and the dark web.”
Kolos emphasized he often warns students that ordering fake IDs online puts them at risk of getting their personal information stolen by companies.
“There are certainly security concerns about how fake IDs are obtained,” Law added.
Davis compared catching students with fake IDs to playing Whack-a-Mole, as they consistently receive reports from all over the city. He noted that the majority of fake IDs are seized at the start of the school year as out-of-state students bring them to campus from home.
“We try and give everybody the most latitude we can and give them second chances, but the problem is, a lot of times we see the same [students] week in and week out,” Davis said.
Kolos is adamant about cracking down on underage drinking as he believes that it’s a dangerous activity that leads to several other problems.
“The statistics are very alarming when it comes to all of the externalities that happen from underage drinking,” Kolos said. “It just goes far beyond just buying beer at a convenience store.”
Kolos and BPD plan to continue conversations with local businesses about the implementation of advanced ID scanning technology, hoping it will prevent students from putting themselves at risk.
“We’re going to be continuing to move them around to different locations, and we’re going to continue to take enforcement action, as well as the school will continue to take enforcement,” said Kolos.
