Fake ID users risk arrest, penalties

Ryan stressed the fact that BC is nearly always notified when one of its students is caught with a fake ID. If the Boston or Newton police arrest a student or issue a summons, they notify the Boston College Police Department (BCPD), which relays the information to ODSD. The courts and the Registry also notify BC when a student is caught using false identification.

If BCPD catches someone with a fake ID, the license and information about the suspect is sent to the Registry, and the case is handed to ODSD. BCPD generally does not arrest or summon students caught with fake IDs, according to Ryan.

Ryan said that although the courts often throw out cases involving fake IDs, repeat offenders and individuals caught creating or distributing false identification are not likely to be treated with leniency, and no one escapes punishment by the Registry.

“There are varying degrees of punishment, but being caught in possession of false identification always has serious results,” said Ryan. “I’ve seen many people lose the opportunity to go to foreign study programs, even law schools. And if people have been caught once and think lightning can’t strike twice, it can and it does.”

Sara Ann Mehltretter contributed to this article.