Scott Joe Bernstein didn’t waste any time trying to get early alcohol-drinking privileges upon his arrival at Kansas University.

It didn’t take him long to get into trouble, either.

About 2 a.m. before the first day of classes for the 18-year-old Birmingham, Ala., freshman, Lawrence police officers arrived at his sixth-floor Naismith Hall suite with a search warrant. They combed through his room and seized his computer, looking for evidence that he and three of his suite mates were manufacturing and dealing in fake IDs.

Police allege the four men made fake IDs between Aug. 18 and last Wednesday. Officers also seized a combination printer and scanner and miscellaneous documents from the suite, according to a police report.

Bernstein, however, said he was just experimenting and that he never sold any IDs. He said he and his friends cut them up and threw them away when they realized no bouncer or liquor store would ever accept them.

“It’s just part of living the American dream and having a good time,” Bernstein said. “Even the police officer I talked to said he drank a lot of beer in college, too. And everybody has one (fake ID), anyway.

“Ours weren’t even really that good. Like, they were terrible. That’s why we stopped.”

Despite Bernstein’s light-hearted approach to the trouble — he posted a copy of the search warrant on the wall of his room — authorities are taking the case seriously. Dealing in false identification is a felony under state law, and Sgt. Mike Pattrick, a police spokesman, said officers would forward their report to Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney for possible charges.

Last August, Kenney’s office charged a 19-year-old KU freshman with dealing in fake IDs and unlawful use of an identification card. Witnesses in that case included residents of the sixth floor of Naismith Hall and a confidential informant, but prosecutors later dismissed the charges.

Pete Bodyk, an officer for the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control department, said fake IDs typically sold for between $50 and $200. He said high-resolution scanners and printers — along with how-to Internet sites — are causing manufactured IDs to become more common.

¢ 6News video: Fake id ring busted¢ Pete Bodyk, with the Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division¢ Fake IDs widespread in Lawrence, official says (7-16-03)¢ Arrest made for fake IDs (8-23-02)¢Mothers Against Drunk Driving report on states with Fake ID laws