The phenomenon known as "
Chalking"
IDs is quite popular among the
under-drinking-age crowd. Most
college students and some
high school students use this method to get into
bars or
clubs. Chalking is practically free and is a
cheaper, and also much less effective than having a
Fake ID made.
The term "chalking" refers to using
colored pencils (yes, that's right! Colored pencils!) to alter the
birthdate on a
Driver's License. This is not possible on all states, but is especially popular (and easy to do) with
New York State IDs. While a chalked ID is usually obvious, and easily identifiable to a
Police Officer, it will almost always get under-age
kids into clubs.
Liquor and
grocery stores, and normal, "old-people" bars will usually turn down an obviously chalked ID.
The
technique is something that needs to be practiced and worked on. This is why most often people will go to a person they know who does it well, and not attempt it themselves. Selecting the correct colored pencil
brand is important, as certain brands are too
hard and will not come off properly on the ID
surface. As my experience is with New York IDs,
Crayola work exceptionally well.
To give you an idea of how chalking actually changes the birthdate, I will explain the process on New York IDs. Three colors are needed -
red,
white, and
black - sharpened to a very nice
point. The white is applied to the last digit or two of the
year to blend most of the red numbers with the background. The red is used to
rewrite new numbers over the white.
The black pencil is then used to change the
code number in the lower-right hand corner of the ID. The number starts out with the ID holders birthdate year, ex: 82XXXXXX. That also must be chalked in the same fasion, using white to cover up parts and black to recreate a new number.
Usually the entire number is not
hidden and changed.
Conveniently changed numbers are selected. People born in
1983 can be made 21 simply by changing the 3 to a 0. It is easy to change a 3 into a 0, just use white to cover up the middle part and connect it with the red. However, it is extremely difficult to make a 1 into a 0, or the like.
Contrary to what people might think, if done correctly a chalked ID can look extremely
convincing to a
bouncer or
bartender - especially in the
dark or through a plastic holder in a
wallet.
In most states, chalking an ID is a
felony (elsewhere it is a
misdemeanor) -
Tampering with an
official document. In New York it is a larger offense to tamper with an official document (chalking) than it is to create a
fake official document (fake-ID). However, people who use these can simply rub hard with their thumb and the evidence dissappears.