Hill topics
FAKE IDs
Having a fake ID became a felony July 1, but less calls to the police does not necessarily mean that the new law will deter underage drinkers.
By Kevin Bates Kansan Staff Writer
A TYPICAL WEEKEND
A TYPICAL WEEKEND
Joe Benskin, owner of Coyote's, puts plastic bracelets on the wrists of everyone who enters his night club, which is open to anyone 18 and older. He has one color of bracelet for 18- to 20-year-olds and another for those 21 or older.
He also draws a black X on the back of every underage hand that comes in.
hard that comes in. Inside, bouncers ensure drinking laws are observed. If a bouncer finds someone wearing the wrong color of bracelet drinking alcohol, the bouncer must escort the underage patron out of the door, Benskin said.
"Their main job is to check wrists and hands," he said. "Those that don't worry about it don't stay too long."
The biggest problem Benskin sees at his club is the number of fake IDs that underage customers try to pass off as authentic. He said his doormen confiscated 20 to 25 fake IDs every Thursday, the busiest night of the week.
the week.
"It just goes to show that my guys know what they're doing," he said. "We take it very seriously."
But at the same time, 700 students can order a drink at The O Street Tavern, 1340 Ohio St., regardless of their ages, estimated Nathan Ryan, Boston senior and O Street Tavern doorman. Ryan has checked identification in front of the tavern for about three months and has seen mostly underage students.
nounds and has said, "If they show a fake ID, they're asking for a lot of trouble," Ryan said. "They're better off if they admit it and show their real ID."
But getting past the doormen is the last checkpoint. If an underage student shows a real ID, that student would be able to walk up to the bar and order a drink, no questions asked, Ryan said.
"If a person's cool about it, they can drink," he said. "That's the way bars work. It makes them a lot of money."
IT'S REALLY ME, HONEST
Since 1985, Kansas law has required alcohol drinkers to be at least 21, so bars must check patrons' IDs before serving drinks.
The average freshman or sophomore does not meet this minimum age. Neither do many junior. In the past, students either sneaked in the back door
students enter bars or used fake IDs. Four
admission policies to allow 18-year-olds in the bars.
Lt. David Cobb of the Lawrence Police Department said the admission change was because of a new Kansas law, which took effect July 1, 1996, making the posses-
was increased from a misdemeanor to a felony in an attempt to curb fake ID usage.
"Before, you had to have an ID to drink," Cobb said. "You had to be 21 to even get in."
old enough to drink and which are hot.
"You know that there are a lot of them who aren't old enough by how many put their beer down and walk away." Cobb said. "It's almost funny to watch."
Now the problem is knowing which bar patrons are old enough to drink and which are not.
Of course, these 18-year-olds cannot legally drink, but once they get past the doorman's scrutiny, they rarely meet an objection from the bartender, they say.
Gencur said she ordered a Bud Light at The O Street Tavern, and when she paid the bartender, she gave him the money with her marked hand, not even trying to conceal the fact that she was underage. The bartender did not ask her how old she was, so Gencur did not tell.
hate an oblygery Gencur, 18, Kansas City, Kan., freshman, said she never worried about drinking at The O Street Tavern. She has shown her real ID at the door, walked in and ordered a beer several times without being challenged, she said.
Leslie Smith, 18, Kansas City, Kan., freshman, said she had shown a borrowed ID to the doormen at both Fatso's and Johnny's Tavern, and both times she was let in.
I've never been in a room with Kelly Driscoll, owner of the Yacht Club, said it was a judgment call for the doormen. But he thought his doormen were stricter than those of other bars.
"They really don't care," Gencur said. "No one said a word, and so it didn't matter."
"I've never had any problems," she said.
"If we think someone is under 21 or is showing us a fake ID, we put them through the ringer," Driscoll said. "We have two at the door and two bartenders, and all can check IDs. And I always tell everyone that works here that if you're wondering whether or not to card someone, you've already answered your own question."
gil Weigel arrested seven underage drinkers in The Wheel Cafe, Bull Winkles Bar and The O Street Tavern, which is a high number, he said.
On Nov. 8 and 9, Alcoholic Beverage Control agent Vir-
"The bars in Lawrence could do a lot to improve keeping minors out," Weigel said. "In most of these places, within the first minute you can find someone underage with a drink in their hand."
DOES THE LAW WORK?
DOES THE LAW WORK?
Although possession of a fake ID is a felony, Cobb does not think the law's sharpened teeth have produced the desired bite. In order for an underage student to be punished, a police officer must be called to the bar or lounge store when the fake ID is used.
"That is really low on our priorities," Cobb said. "We have to take care of everything else, like emergencies and accidents, before we can come to check on an ID. If we have enough time and enough officers, we can send someone."
Since the new penalty has been publicized on campus, Cobb said, a policeman has been called to check on a fake ID once or twice each week, a lower frequency than before July 1.
"Some bars cooperate with us real well," Cobb said. "Louise's Sandbar, Dos
Mau. Doubler. King Arthur's — those are the good checkers. But the law won't make a dent until we get the bars to go back up to 21."
"I have seen more arrests for fake IDs since July 1 than I've seen in all of the year before the law came into effect," he said.
Marlon Williams, assistant district attorney for Douglas County, said he thought the police were aware of the harsher penalty. Although the number of arrests were not available, he thought the police were writing more tickets now than before.
"I really don't think they care," she said. "Ninety percent of everyone there was under 21 — no questions at all once you're inside."
THEY DON'T CARE
Brit Laurent, Sandbar doorman, said that even though he turned away people with fake IDs regularly, he did not think he had a perfect record.
Angle, an 18-year-old Topeka freshman who did not want her last name revealed, said several of her underage friends drank at bars despite claims of bar managers that IDs were thoroughly examined.
"I usually get four or five each
"I usually get four or five live weekend," Laurent said. "Those are the ones I catch. But sometimes it's hard to catch every single one. I try not to let it happen, but I'm sure a few get by me."
Students know it's illegal to use a fake ID, but does it bother them?
Lawrence lawyer Mike Riling doesn't think so.
Local bar's wall of shame used to halt admission of patrons who are underage
"Freshmen are immortal," Riling said. "And they won't realize that they're not until they or their friends get fried."
By Kevin Bates
Kansan Staff Writer
Matt Baum will nail you to the wall.
Louise's, 1009 Massachusetts St., serves about 500 people every Friday night. Of those, Baum said that between 10 and 20 people usually tried to use a fake ID to enter. He said he quickly tired of confiscating IDs and turning underage students away.
Baum, assistant manager of Louise's Bar Downtown, points to two identical red signs flanking the bar's front door. The first line reads, "YOU MUST BE 21 TO ENTER." The rest warns underage patrons that "proper i.d. is required. If you give us a fake we will be keeping it!!!"
"I got sick of turning away every other person," Baum said. "This way, by taking the IDs from them, at least I can ruin their social lives for a couple weeks, maybe make them think about it."
About a year ago, the bar's owner, Brad Ziegler, decided to put those small pieces of plastic to an aesthetic and preventive use. Above and to the right of the bar, almost directly above the front door, 166 fake IDs are stapped to a three-foot-tall section of white-paneled wall between the ceiling and the glass window.
"It began as a contest between the doormen,"
began as a contest between the doormen,
said Troy Clifton, bar manager. "We gave $50 to the first one with 10 fake Do's."
About 10 rows of
driver's licenses, student ID cards and one passport line this wall of shane. Most of the driver's licenses are from Kansas, but several dozen come from surrounding states. The college IDs also come from Kansas other states.
Doormen are instructed that the thief are false.
to confiscate any IDs that they think are fake.
Then a hole is punched in each ID to safeguard against reuse. But the IDs on the wall do not have holes punched in them.
"We put the ones we get now in a cup behind the bar," Clifton said. "We haven't put any up on the wall in a while."
The wall display has affected the number of fake IDs that Louise's now sees each weekend. Along with the wall, calling the police, or at least threatening to call, always helps.
"Usually all we have to do is say that we're going to call the cops, and they're out of here," Clifton said. "We've never actually had to get the cops to take someone away."
Clifton said Baum had taken to wielding scissors during his recent door shifts. When he thinks he's been given a fake ID, Baum cuts the ID in half while the patron watches.
"People get mad, but what do they have to be mad about?" asked Baum. "I just point at the two big signs. It just amazes me that they
can read that and still try to pull one
more on me."
Clifton thought Baum's tactics were a little strong but agreed that they were effective.
"Exposing IDs shows the cops and everyone else that we're harsh about it," Clifton said. "That way, they don't come in looking for minors."