Alert examiners at Driver License offices in Elizabeth City and Edenton provided information that led to the arrest of 11 individuals using fraudulent identification to obtain North Carolina driver licenses.

The arrests, which occurred Jan. 12, came after examiners notified inspectors with the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) License and Theft Bureau of suspicious activity at the driver license offices.

&uot;I commend both the examiners and inspectors for their quick action in preventing fake ID’s from being used to obtain a North Carolina driver’s license,&uot; said N. C. Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner George Tatum.

&uot;This represents our commitment to keep our state’s highways safe by upholding the integrity of the driver license application process.&uot;

Nine of those arrested appeared to have paid fees ranging from $900 to $1400 to two individuals who transported them from New Jersey to North Carolina to obtain the licenses.

The 11 individuals were charged with obtaining property under false pretense, a class H felony, which can carry prison terms of up to 30 months upon conviction.

The individuals are in the Pasquotank County jail, under bonds ranging from $500 to $50,000.

The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Department, the Edenton Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation cooperated in the investigation, which is continuing.