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Boulder police report spike in fraudulent IDs; industry volunteers push to revive training network
Summary
At the May 21 Boulder Beverage Licensing Authority meeting, a liquor enforcement officer reported a sharp rise in seized fraudulent IDs and licensees and industry volunteers proposed restarting a local hospitality training group to help curb the problem.
Officer Leah Rec of the Boulder Police Department told the City of Boulder Beverage Licensing Authority on May 21 that the department has seen a sharp increase in fraudulent identification cards seized at licensed establishments. She said 1,851 fraudulent IDs were turned in during 2024 and that, as of early May 2025, licensees had already turned in about 1,139.
The report outlined how the city and police handle seized IDs and enforcement. Rec said first offenses typically receive a warning and notification to the University of Colorado; repeat offenses can result in tickets sent to municipal or county court and possible diversion programs. She described diversion as options that may include community service or classes and said completing diversion can lead to sealing the ticket. Rec also said Boulder licensees do not always turn seized IDs into police and urged better coordination; a volunteer in her office currently spends roughly 30 hours a week processing turned-in IDs.
The statistics and enforcement details prompted public commenters representing the hospitality industry to urge a revival of a local training and information-sharing group. Nathan (Ty) Dewey, who previously led a nonprofit called Responsible Association of Retailers in Boulder, said he has restarted training under a private LLC and asked the authority for 10–15 minutes at a future meeting to describe proposed fake-ID training and liquor-license consultation services. “I was providing fake ID trainings… I have a lot of knowledge and background on where those come from,” Dewey said.
AJ Sandoval, security manager at Pearl Street Pub, described a plan to rebuild a volunteer-run local hospitality forum—historically known as the Responsible Hospitality Group (RHG)—that would coordinate information-sharing, training on over-service and de-escalation, and fake-ID detection for licensees. Sandoval said the intended group would be staffed by volunteers and serve as a channel for law enforcement and the city to communicate policies and training to licensees.
Officer Rec told the authority she would welcome collaboration with CU and city partners before the fall semester to reach incoming students and increase early deterrence. She asked the authority to consider talking about the issue at the authority’s summer retreat and encouraged licensees and industry groups to help fund and support systematic solutions.
The licensing authority did not take formal action at the meeting on either enforcement changes or a new training group but members expressed support for exploring cooperative prevention and training efforts.
Ending — The authority scheduled general follow-up and said members can address training and enforcement ideas at the upcoming retreat; private and volunteer groups asked to return next month to present implementation ideas.
