Everything you Need
To Verify and Control
Virginia Identity
Documents
Our printed I.D. Checking Guides and online versions are used by
DMVs, government agencies at all levels, and businesses.
Check Virginia Drivers Licenses & IDs
Fake IDs in Virginia
A Growing Problem
Like states across the nation, Virginia is trying to meet the challenge of more fraudulent IDs whether presented in person or by digital image. Many of these fake IDs come from counterfeiters located overseas with sophisticated equipment. As stories below illustrate, fake identification is getting easier to obtain in Virginia and is often associated with illegal alcohol purchases by minors and financial fraud.
Alcohol Sales & Service Guidelines for Virginia
- Minimum age to consume: 21
- Minimum age to serve: 18
- Minimum age to bartend: 21
A person under 21 may not purchase alcoholic beverages as part of a law enforcement action.
Penalties for serving or selling to a minor: In Virginia, selling alcohol to someone under 21 years old is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which can result in a fine of up to $2,500 and/or up to 12 months in jail. The consequences may vary depending on whether the seller knew the buyer was underage. For example, if an employee sells alcohol to a minor without checking their ID, they may be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor, which has a maximum fine of $500.
In addition to criminal penalties, businesses that sell alcohol to minors may also face civil penalties. For example, a first offense by a licensee may result in a $2,000 civil penalty or a 25-day suspension of their license privileges. Subsequent violations may result in a license suspension. Employers may also face civil penalties and may fire employees who sell alcohol to minors.
How to Spot a Fake Virginia ID
For law enforcement officers, bank tellers, car rental agents, human resources professionals and others who must verify ID in a professional capacity, the recent surge in fake IDs is challenging. The liability and losses that result from accepting a fake ID are large. The I.D. Checking Guide assists in the ID verification process by showing what an actual, valid ID looks like at full-size, and highlights the details of the licenses, making it much easier to spot the fraud. Before approving an expensive car rental, opening a new bank account or hiring a new employee, make sure the driver’s license or ID card has the correct numbering, UV, microprint, ghost images, expiration, and other details that counterfeiters often miss.
Markets Served
What the I.D. Checking Guide Includes:
- A full page or more for each U.S. state and Canadian province, showing driver’s licenses and ID cards.
- Security image information for ghost images, laser perforation, microprint, UV and other validation details.
- Explanation of what the proper alphanumeric sequencing of a Virginia ID or Driver’s License should be (how many letters, numbers, etc.).
- U.S. Federal documents including immigration, military ID, Visas and passport cards.
- “How to check driver’s licenses” techniques for training.