Arlington Police Announce Major Crackdown on Underage Drinking

If you're underage and have a fake ID, it might be a bad idea to try getting alcohol in Arlington this summer.

The Arlington County Police Department is planning to conduct "a high-visibility underage drinking enforcement and education campaign designed to curb the use of fake IDs by underage individuals," according to a police statement.

This summer, officers will be working with businesses in Clarendon to "authenticate identification documents and identify fake IDs used by underage individuals to purchase alcohol and gain access to bars," the statement adds.

Anyone caught using another person's driver's license, altering their own license or using a fake ID may be charged with possession of a false identification, which is a class 2 misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

You could also face a charge of identity theft, a class 1 misdemeanor that carries an even stiffer penalty: up to 12 months in jail and a $2,550 fine.

"According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, those under the legal drinking age are at a far greater risk of death in an alcohol-related crash than the overall population, despite the fact that they cannot legally purchase or publicly possess alcohol in any state," the statement reads. "That's why the Arlington County Police Department is reminding underage individuals to think before they drink; underage drinking comes with adult consequences."