ID VerificationQuestion 78 of 100
A common method for the bartender to verify that a license is not laminated over an altered birth date is to:
a.Run a thumbnail or finger along the edges feeling for raised lamination or bumps, and gently bend the card to check for delamination or cracking
b.Heat the corner of the card with a lighter
c.Wash the card with water to dissolve fake ink
d.Cut a small notch in the card
Explanation
Real driver licenses are polycarbonate or PVC with bonded layers — edges are smooth and the card bends slightly without separating. Tampered licenses often have raised lamination over the altered area, peeling corners, mismatched textures, or delaminate when bent. The 'edge feel' and 'bend test' are standard non-destructive checks. Heating, washing, or cutting (b, c, d) destroy the ID and may constitute property damage if the ID turns out to be real.
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