The implementation of a fake ID scanning pilot program in downtown Clemson has been successful, with nearly 20% of IDs being flagged as fake this year, city of Clemson Police Department Chief Jorge Campos said during a Clemson City Council meeting on Monday.

After receiving funding for the pilot program in January, city police gathered data in mid-February that flagged 572 of 2,921 (19.58%) scanned IDs as “fraudulent,” Campos said at the meeting. The data comes from six businesses that implemented scanners. It is unclear exactly when the police and the six bars and liquor stores installed the scanners.

“These numbers initially are very promising, so we’ll see where it goes,” Campos said.

Campos also noted that, although some technical difficulties remain, the statistics show that the scanners are working.

Based on the city’s agreement with the software company, 15 businesses are eligible to install Intellicheck scanners. The remaining nine establishments are still working on adding the mobile app scanning technology to their business.

Campos also mentioned that Clemson University saw a spike in alcohol-related incidents recently and has begun taking a different approach to handling them on campus. This approach includes tailoring diversionary programs to educate students, more specifically, on the consequences of using fake IDs.

As a result of the spike in alcohol-related incidents, the city of Clemson has instructed the city attorney on how to handle minor in possession cases in the solicitor’s office with the diversionary programs in place.

“The students generally say that it is a rite of passage to have a fake ID,” Campos said. “They’re very smart, they weigh their options, they weigh the risks and then hence we have an issue.”

Along with an update on the fake ID scanning program, Campos discussed how the city police saw a significant decrease in crimes and violations this past year, which he attributed to officers’ performance.

City police also increased its investigation solvability rate from 69% last year to 73% this year due to improved performance by detectives, as well as the Flock Safety security cameras downtown, Campos added.

Additionally, he said that both homicides that occurred in Clemson over the past two years were solved primarily because of the Flock Safety cameras. Regarding future goals, Campos said he hopes to hire younger officers to help better utilize technology for tracking crimes.