Press Release - 02-02-2016

DMV News 

Contact:
Joe Morrissey    [email protected]
Casey McNulty  [email protected]

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 2, 2016

 

NEW YORK STATE DMV UNDERAGE DRINKING ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS RESULT IN NEARLY 50 ARRESTS IN CORTLAND AND BROCKPORT
DMV Investigators Seized Fake IDs Used at Five Bars in Two College Towns This Past Weekend


The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today announced that a weekend fake ID sweep in two college towns netted nearly 50 underage drinking arrests. DMV’s Division of Field Investigation (DFI) conducted Operation Prevent sweeps in the City of Cortland, resulting in 28 arrests, and in the Village of Brockport, resulting in 20 arrests. All of the arrests resulted from underage patrons attempting to use fraudulent driver licenses to purchase alcohol or enter bars. 

On Friday, January 29, DFI investigators worked with the City of Cortland Police Department to check IDs at the Red Jug Pub, the Stone Lounge, the Dark Horse Tavern, and Hairy Tony’s. Of the 28 patrons arrested, two were found to be in possession of another person’s New York State driver license; three held counterfeit, old-style New York State licenses; nine presented counterfeit licenses from Connecticut; seven presented counterfeit licenses from Pennsylvania; five presented counterfeit licenses from New Jersey; and two others held counterfeit licenses, one from Rhode Island, one from Ontario.

On Saturday, January 30, DFI investigators made 20 arrests, with assistance from the Village of Brockport Police Department and in cooperation with the Merchant Street Steak and Smoke House in Brockport. Eight patrons tried to use another person’s New York State driver license, and one used a counterfeit, old-style New York State license; other fraudulent licenses were presented from New Jersey (five), Ohio (two), Pennsylvania (two), Connecticut (one), and Rhode Island (one).

“DMV is steadfast in its commitment to deter underage drinking. DFI’s Operation Prevent sweeps make that commitment immediately apparent to the very group with which we are most concerned – underage drinkers,” said DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan. “By continuously making our presence known at establishments where underage drinkers congregate, DMV seeks to prevent highway tragedies before they occur. We will continue to work with our statewide partners to keep our roadways safe.”

DMV announced in November that it had made 53 arrests in Cortland since the start of the fall semester, including 19 during Cortaca weekend. DFI worked with numerous law enforcement personnel during those operations, conducting walkthroughs at many establishments to identify patrons that may have gained access using false identification. 

Operation Prevent investigations are funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) to deter underage drinking and keep New York’s roadways safe. The investigations are conducted all year long, not only at bars and drinking establishments, but also at concerts, events, or wherever underage patrons are likely to gather.  DFI also conducts operations at the request of bar owners, law enforcement, and the State Liquor Authority in larger cities and college towns.

For more information on DMV, visit dmv.ny.gov.

 

###