Officials will soon enforce tougher stance on fake IDs

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Having a fake ID is illegal in North Carolina, but District Attorney Ben David says our state has not done a good job enforcing that law.

David says he is hoping to change that.

In a press conference at UNCW Monday, David was joined by the UNCW Police Chief and the NC ABC Commission Chairman to announce a new component to the deferred prosecution program in hopes to reduce fake ID use and underage drinking.

David says anyone charged with a fake ID offense will have to surrender their actual license to the court for 60 days.

“This is the gateway to identity theft online,” David said. “It’s a gateway to the #1 date rape drug on campuses which is alcohol. It’s the gateway to all the tragedies that we are seeing on the roads and if that is true we have a moral responsibility to do something about it.”

David says this will go in effect on October 1st. He adds North Carolina has one death a week due to the alcohol related accidents.