In an attempt to combat the use of false identification in alcohol purchases, the Department of Public Safety is encouraging Ames businesses to implement an identification scanner that would make fake IDs nearly useless.

The device, CardCom, reads the magnetic strip on the back of an Iowa driver’s license to obtain information such as the driver’s license number, the license expiration date and the birthdate of the driver.

DPS Lt. Isra Harahap said the scanners would help cut down on underage alcohol consumption. He said the number of minors purchasing alcohol by illegal means would be reduced because illegally manufactured IDs would be picked up by the scanner.

“It is impossible to imitate an ID, although with new computer equipment and color printers, many people are getting close,” he said.

CardCom would be an effective way to neutralize technological developments that make it easier to create fake IDs, Harahap said.

According to an article in the Daily Iowan, CardCom is becoming a prevalent fixture at many alcohol distributors near the University of Iowa.

It is in use at Airliner, an Iowa City bar, and Iowa City Hy-Vees and will be installed soon in The Fieldhouse, another Iowa City bar.

Randy Larson, co-owner of Airliner, said he installed the device at his bar as soon as possible.

“We got it as soon as we heard about it,” he said. “I sort of giggled when other bars say they’re looking into getting it by the fall. It only takes about three days from ordering it to the installation.”

Larson said he thinks the installation of CardCom sends a message to bar patrons and the community.

“Right off the bat everyone coming into our place knows that we care. We’re going to try hard not to serve underage people,” he said.

Larson said the scanner hasn’t caught any illegal IDs yet.

“It might be a contraceptive maneuver because we haven’t run into one yet,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter because it hasn’t hurt our business at all.”

But despite its prevalence in Iowa City, Ames business owners have been reluctant to use CardCom.

Ryan Spooner, manager of The Keg Shop, 218 Welch Ave., said he has several concerns that have caused him to hesitate implementing the device in his store.

Spooner said although CardCom will be able to identify an ID that is lost or stolen, it can’t detect if an underage drinker is attempting to use a borrowed ID.

“If someone uses another’s ID, what is it going to solve?” he said.

Spooner said another disadvantage of relying on CardCom is the existence of the older Iowa driver’s licenses, which do not have the magnetic strip. The abundance of out-of-state students and students with military IDs also make it difficult to rely on CardCom, he said.

Spooner said he will resort to using CardCom, which costs $300, if fake IDs become a problem at The Keg Shop.

Although the DPS is pushing for CardCom’s use, Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said his department currently has no involvement in the implementation of the scanner.