35 arrested for fake IDs at Drake concert | News

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Thirty-five people were arrested for 36 charges during the Drake concert at SPAC.

Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy said that NYS Department of Motor Vehicle Albany Field Office Investigators were in full force checking IDs for young people who tried to buy alcohol at SPAC during the concert last Thursday night.

People were charged with the following: Possession of a fraudulent license, use of another’s license, criminal possession of a forged instrument and possession of an altered license.

“Our goal is not to permanently affect the teenager’s future, but instead to make this a learning experience.  What we are looking for is some community service, an alcohol awareness course, and an awareness of the dangers of possessing a fake ID and underage drinking,” said District Attorney James Murphy in a statement. “They will also have to deal with the  long term consequences of having provided their own information over the internet to a company that will likely sell their real identity at least 7 times before they get the fake ID in the mail. One wonders if the beer is really worth it.”

The IDs at the Drake concert were from a list of states including Pennsylvania, Vermont, Ohio, Michigan, New Hampshire, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut and others.

A number of changes have been instituted at the park to try and deter crime and make it safer:

• Parking lots have opened earlier allowing for the orderly flow of traffic to enter the park and parking lots without delay or back up.
• Saratoga Springs Police Department has saturated patrols on roads leading to SPAC which resulted in motor vehicle stops where drivers voluntarily surrendered cases of beer, and other alcoholic beverages once being advised of the Zero Tolerance Policy.
• Law enforcement agencies instituted the use of “plate hunters” which scan license plates of cars to identify those vehicles that is unregistered, uninsured and unlicensed.
• Saratoga Springs Police Department had a detail of specially trained officers making the stops.  Many motorists advised the officers upon being questioned that they were aware of the Zero Tolerance Policy and as a result chose not to bring a cooler of alcohol to the concert or the park. 
• Law enforcement's visual presence prevented crime as a method of deterrence.
• Alcohol was surrendered at all entrances to the park and parking lots and destroyed. 
• Trails and paths were patrolled by officers on horseback, ATV and on foot.