2016 in Review: Fake IDs Seized, Underage Drinkers Arrested in Record Numbers in NY

NEW YORK — Underage drinking sweeps conducted by state DMV investigators in 2016 resulted in the seizure of 862 fraudulent licenses and the arrest of 818 people for underage drinking, both single year records.

Also, the State Liquor Authority issued 1,051 penalties to licensed retailers for underage sales.

"Underage drinking and fake IDs are not only illegal, but often lead to bad decisions that could have life-altering consequences," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in announcing the results of Operation Prevent for 2016. "These enforcement efforts protect young New Yorkers, help prevent unnecessary tragedies, while increasing safety on our roads and our communities."

The previous record of 751 seized ID documents and 758 arrests was set by the NY Department of Motor Vehicles in 2015.

Through year-round Operation Prevent sweeps, DMV investigators work with state and local law enforcement agencies to conduct underage drinking and fake ID sweeps at bars, restaurants and concert venues across New York.

Anyone under the age of 21 using fake IDs or false documents with the intent to purchase alcohol can be arrested and have their license revoked for a minimum of 90 days or up to one year.

A breakdown of arrests and fake IDs seized in 2016 can be found online here.

“Our investigators performed a record number of arrests and license seizures in 2016, and in the process kept New York’s roads safer," DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan said. "No matter the season or time of year, DMV is hard at work on our ‘Operation Prevent’ initiative, which has proven to be a very effective tool in deterring high risk behaviors. I thank Governor Cuomo and our partners at the state and local levels for their continued support of our efforts to prevent underage drinking.”

The administration has been focused on deterring underage drinking and preventing the purchase of false identification documents.

On June 15, a crackdown at summer concerts was announced to deter underage drinking. On Aug. 23 the Governor announced a coordinated interagency effort to combat underage drinking on college campuses. On August 26, 2015 he warned returning college students about the dangers of purchasing fake IDs over the Internet.

Operation Prevent investigations are funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to deter underage drinking and keep New York’s roadways safe. DMV also conducts operations at summer concerts, and at the request of bar owners, law enforcement, and the State Liquor Authority in larger cities and college towns.In addition, the SLA continues to aggressively enforce underage drinking laws and provide education and training to our licensees.

As part of the coordinated effort to combat underage drinking, the SLA hosted eight day-long free compliance trainings for restaurant, bar owners and their staff across the state, with over 500 business owners and more than 750 employees receiving Alcohol Training and Awareness certification since September.