Lawmakers blame fake IDs for underage drinking

A local lawmaker is sponsoring a bill to curb underage drinking by limiting access to fake identification.
State Sen. Jeff Klein and other lawmakers sent interns into New York City and found that they easily obtained fake IDs. Klein and state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins are pushing a bill that calls for shops that sell the identification cards to face penalties.
The bill would also make identification scanners mandatory where alcohol is sold. Storeowners would lose their liquor and/or lottery licenses.
People who've lost loved ones to alcohol-related car wrecks agree with the measure.
In December 2005, an underage Ralph Tarchine admitted to being drunk and high when he killed 17-year-old Michael Plunkett in a crash. The teen was the son of News 12 financial analyst Bob Plunkett. Weeks later, police said Tarchine injured another teen in a different crash.