The Fake ID With a Real Hologram
A doorperson at a Phoenix nightclub is handed an Arizona driver license by a woman who looks about 22. The license says she is 23. The photo resembles her. The card has a hologram, a magnetic strip, and a barcode. The date of birth makes her 23, but the issue date is only four months ago and the license number format looks slightly off to the doorperson, who has seen thousands of Arizona licenses. The woman is nervous, laughs too much, and gives a birth date that matches the card. The doorperson's scanner is broken. The club uses a UV light at the door. The woman says she left her second ID at home. The line behind her is 15 people deep.
1. What should the doorperson do, and what should the doorperson not rely on?
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The doorperson should refuse entry for alcohol service and ask for a second form of ID. The doorperson should not rely on the hologram, magnetic strip, or barcode alone, because counterfeit cards can replicate those features. The doorperson should check the UV features under the club's light, compare the photo carefully, and look at the issue date and license number format. The nervous behavior and the too-quick matching birth date are soft indicators, not proof. The doorperson should not confiscate the ID; that can create liability. The doorperson should deny entry, document the refusal, and notify the manager. If the card is clearly altered, the doorperson may contact police per club policy. The line pressure is not a reason to skip checks.
2. The scanner is broken. Does that excuse the doorperson from verifying age?
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No. A broken scanner changes the method, not the duty. The doorperson must still verify age using the tools available: visual inspection, UV light, photo comparison, and a second ID. The club should have a backup scanner or a manual verification protocol. If the doorperson cannot verify to a reasonable certainty, the correct answer is to refuse service. The doorperson should report the broken scanner to the manager so it is fixed before the next shift. The exam point is that equipment failure does not lower the legal standard; it shifts the server to a more conservative decision.
3. The woman offers her older sister's ID number as proof. How should the doorperson respond?
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The doorperson should decline the offer and treat it as a reason for more scrutiny, not less. A verbal ID number cannot be verified and is not an acceptable form of identification. The doorperson should require a physical, valid ID that matches the bearer. If the woman cannot produce one, the doorperson should refuse entry for alcohol service. The doorperson should not hold the offered ID or call the sister. The doorperson should document the refusal and inform the manager if the woman becomes disruptive. The judgment tested is whether the candidate accepts informal 'proof' under line pressure; the correct answer is no.