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College students attending East Carolina University or Pitt Community College may know someone who has used a fake identification at one point or another. However, many students may not be aware that simply possessing a fake ID is considered a crime under North Carolina law. Use of a fake ID, like possessing one, can not only lead to criminal charges, but a criminal record if a person is convicted of the charge.

Agents from the North Carolina Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement recently conducted a crackdown on underage drinking in another part of the state after a student attending Appalachian State died from an alcohol-related incident in September. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety released data this week from the recent underage drinking probe in the high country area.

ALE agents arrested 103 people on alcohol related offenses during the investigation. Some of the people arrested were charged with multiple offenses, as officials accuse the 103 people of 155 total charges. Authorities say that among the 155 charges filed against underage drinkers, more than 30 fake IDs that officials claim were purchased online were taken from people under the age of 21. Other people were found to be using actual IDs that authorities believe were borrowed from friends or acquaintances during the investigation. 

The recent Department of Public Safety announcement indicates that many of the arrests involved allegations of underage drinking or possession of alcohol. However, some people were charged with using a fake ID, or aiding and abetting underage consumption or possession of alcohol offenses.

Generally, a person need not necessarily be present at a party to face an alcohol-related offense under North Carolina law. While a recent news report does not indicate the details surrounding each of the arrests, a person may face aiding and abetting charges without even being present where underage drinking is alleged.

Source: WFMY News 2, “100+ Arrested In Underage Drinking Sting In Boone Area,” March 11, 2013

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

RCMP in Dauphin are warning the public after receiving a report of a man posing as a water meter reader.

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A 20-year-old Greenville, North Carolina man was recently arrested at his home on a string of serious criminal charges. Law enforcement claims that an incident at a convenience store sparked an investigation that led to the man’s home.

A Greenville Police officer claims the young man attempted to buy beer at the Greenville convenience using a fake ID. Authorities claim that the store clerk refused to sell the beer, because the clerk believed that the date of birth on the license had been altered. Apparently, law enforcement believes an argument broke out over the alleged fake ID.

Police say the young man left the convenience store and a Greenville officer claims to have followed the man home. Law enforcement says that marijuana was sitting in plain sight inside the young man’s home during the arrest. Police further assert that lights and equipment that police believe are associated with an alleged marijuana grow were seen inside the residence.

Law enforcement took the young man into custody at his home, according to WNCT News. The young man was booked into jail and held on ,000 bond earlier this month on suspicion of possession of stolen property, resisting, delaying and obstructing an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana charges.

Generally, North Carolina law makes the alleged possession of a fake ID a crime. Under the tough North Carolina laws aimed at controlling underage drinking, a person does not necessarily have to attempt to use a fake ID to purchase alcohol to face criminal fake ID charges.

It is important for teens and young adults to consider speaking with an experienced Pitt County criminal defense lawyer when facing any level of charge in North Carolina for a review of the facts and top protect his or her rights in court.

Source: WNCT, “Greenville man faces multiple charges after trying to use fake ID to buy beer,” May 8, 2012

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

A 1996 study found that 46% of 272 undergraduates surveyed had used a fake ID to purchase alcohol. The study’s results indicate that MLDA21 does not inhibit the consumption of alcohol in minors but instead simply pushes it from daylight.

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Greenville DWI defense and underage alcohol defense lawyers know that law enforcement agencies in North Carolina commonly set up focused enforcement operations surrounding public events to enforce DWI and underage drinking laws. This weekend’s 2012 Azalea festival in Wilmington was no exception.

North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents issued citations or arrested 261 people over the weekend during the annual Azalea Festival. ALE officials say that a large number of the citations involved underage drinking during the enforcement operation that began Thursday and ran through Saturday. A total of 308 charges were brought against 261 people.

Underage drinking tickets can be somewhat confusing for many people. Because North Carolina law brings all criminal charges against a person who is at least 16-years-old in adult court, many people are later caught off guard when they learn that paying such a ticket is the equivalent of a criminal conviction that is entered of the person’s permanent adult criminal record.

ALE officials say that 107 people were charged with underage possession offenses during the weekend festival. In addition to the underage alcohol charges against individuals, two businesses were accused of providing alcohol to a minor, and those allegations reportedly were sent on to the North Carolina ABC Commission for review.

During the weekend event, 15 people were charged with using a fake ID. In North Carolina, mere possession of a fake ID is a criminal offense.

Fifteen people were charged with possession of marijuana at the festival. ALE officials accuse five people of driving while impaired surrounding the event. The DWI cases reportedly were turned over to the State Highway Patrol.

Source: Star News, “More than 260 arrested, cited during Azalea Festival,” April 16, 2012

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

Technology has provided students with a world of benefit in pursing resources for education. High school and college students in North Carolina have the world at their fingertips. But the advances in technology have law enforcement on the alert for the availability of fake IDs. Possession of a fake id is a crime in North Carolina.

With the end of the school year and events associated with the seasonal change, law enforcement has heightened concerns. Chief Mike Crawley with the Mecklenburg County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board says when an individual has an altered driver’s license or an ID purchased somewhere with an individual’s picture on it, “you’re intention is to do something illegal.” Any seasoned Greenville defense attorney knows that possession of a fake ID itself can lead to charges.

Being cited for possession of a fake ID,–like any underage alcohol offense– can lead to not only charges, but a permanent criminal record if convicted. The offenses are considered crimes under North Carolina law. Many websites and other purveyors of fake IDs include disclaimers in the sales pitch to indicate the IDs are for novelty use only.

The disclaimer does nothing to help the buyer. In addition to the potential for a criminal record, a person could possibly lose their actual driver’s license for up to a year.

North Carolina issues what is known as a vertical driver’s license for any person under the age of 21. The intent is to make it more difficult for people who are underage to obtain alcohol. North Carolina driver’s licenses are also embedded with a hologram to make it more difficult to duplicate with today’s technology. Crawley says many individuals try to get around the difficulties in reproducing fake IDs in the state by getting fake IDs from other states.

When charged with an underage alcohol offense, or a charge related to a fake ID, an experienced Greenville defense attorney can help to analyze a specific situation and answer questions regarding the potential consequences of the charges.

Source: WBTV, “Fake IDs offered to teens online,” Jamie Boll 18 May 2011

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm