GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – A new initiative designed to get fake IDs off the street is being implemented by the ALE and the ABC Commission in North Carolina.

Every week someone in North Carolina is killed due to underage drinking, and according to law enforcement, the illegal cards are part of the problem.

“It’s getting out of hand,” said Randy Andrews, ABC commission chief.

Law enforcement calls the use of illegal cards an epidemic, and the ALE and the ABC Commission teamed up for a weekend to collect as many fakes as possible.

“The purpose is the safety of our young adults,” Andrews said.

As a result of the initiative, 37 ID’s were taken off the streets.

“The ninth and the tenth (of September) were the most offenses for utilizing fake ID’s that I have ever seen in my career,” said Eric Swain, an ALE special agent.

The issue facing law enforcement is that nearly anyone can get a fake ID, so it is difficult for people to tell the difference.

“We really have to concentrate and study what we’re doing to stay on top of it,” Andrews said.

There are books and apps to help spot the cards. Andrews demonstrated an ID barcode reading app.

“What this app does is pick up whether the bar code itself is in the right format,” said Andrews.

Some businesses even have their own scanners to keep up with the changing times.

Law enforcement officers said the use of fake IDs to drink underage will be a problem until people decide to be responsible. In the meantime, they will continue their efforts to collect as many fake IDs as possible.

“If you’re going to have a fake ID, I wouldn’t use it,” Swain said.