THE F.A.B. ID CHECKLIST
This checklist gives a thumbnail sketch of what
you should look for when examining identification cards.
Fake IDs -- Check the size,
thickness, and color of the card -- Check the placement, size, and
typeface of the letters and numbers -- Check the photograph for shading,
glare, or "red-eye" -- Check the state seal for accuracy -- Check the
back for blurred or dark images -- Check for such phrases as "for
personal use," "office use only," or "not a government document" --
Request backup documentation -- Reject and confiscate questionable cards
Altered IDs -- Check for numbers
that have been scratched or bleached out and inked over or cut out and
reinserted -- Check for overlapping numbers; the laminate may have been
peeled back and replaced -- Check for cloudy images; a new laminate may
cover the old one -- Compare the birth date to the driver's license
number because in some states these numbers match -- Check for rough
spots, especially around the edges and over the photograph -- Check the
state seal for accuracy and completeness; an inserted photograph may
cover part of it -- Request backup documentation -- Reject and
confiscate questionable cards
Borrowed IDs -- Compare the
photograph and physical identifiers to the cardholder and question
discrepancies -- Ask the presenter to verify personal data on the card
-- Obtain a signature and compare it to the one on the card -- Be wary
of expired and duplicate cards -- Request backup documentation -- Reject
and confiscate questionable cards.
