Police Raid 6 Hudson Valley Bars Looking For Underage Drinkers

Many fake IDs were handed into police and a handful of alleged underage drinkers were arrested after police raided six Hudson Valley bars.

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In the early morning hours on Saturday, the New Paltz Police Department conducted an underage drinking detail at New Paltz bars.

After entering each business, officers announced that anyone under the age of 21 or with a fake ID could give police their fake ID and leave the bar without getting in trouble. 14 fraudulent identifications were turned in by underage patrons, police say.

After a brief period, police then started checking IDs of remaining patrons. Five underage people either presented a fake ID to officers, rather than turn them in or tried to hide from officers, according to the Town of New Paltz Police Department.

The investigation was called "Operation Give Me a Break,” because according to New Paltz Police Chief Joe Snyder, “Whenever we conduct bar checks and we catch underage individuals using fake ID’s, they tend to always ask the officers for 'a break.'"

In total six businesses were visited by law enforcement and over 450 identifications checked. Police didn't release the names of the bars they visited.

“I feel this was a successful detail and a testament to the collaborative efforts of various community stakeholders. We work closely with the local tavern owners associate, the Town of New Paltz and SUNY New Paltz Prevention Coordinators, Ulster County Crime Victims and Ulster County Stop DWI to reduce underage drinking," Snyder said in a press release.

Those five were processed for a violation under the Vehicle and Traffic Law and released to reappear in New Paltz Court later next month.