The Three ID Results You Need to Recognize
A passenger's paperwork can change the entire inspection. Airport Contraband's documented ID rules are straightforward: scan the ID, continue with valid documents, deny entry for expired documents, and arrest passengers presenting forged IDs. Treating every failed scan as the same offense leads to the wrong decision.
DRAGO explains the distinction in its August 22, 2026 announcement, Trust, But Verify — ID Scanner. A separate prerelease player recording provides an example of operating the scanner, rather than an independent test of today's bindings.
How to Scan a Passenger's ID
When the ID station is available, activate it and scan each passenger's card. In the recorded player experience, the interaction tells the player to take the card and swipe it to the right. Wait for the result before directing the passenger onward.
A valid ID clears the document check. It does not automatically clear the person's belongings, body search, or luggage: the recorded player continues through those stations after a successful scan.
Use the current station instructions if the physical interaction differs in your build or control setup. The important decision is the resulting document status, not copying a hand motion without checking whether the scan completed.
What to Do With Valid, Expired, and Fake Documents
| Scanner result | Document-control response | What the distinction means |
|---|---|---|
| Valid | Continue the passenger's inspection | The ID check has passed; other applicable checks still remain. |
| Expired | Deny entry | Expiration is grounds to turn the traveler away. |
| Fake or forged | Arrest the passenger | Forgery calls for arrest rather than a simple refusal. |
The official announcement explicitly separates expiration from forgery. An expired document is not evidence that the card is forged, and a fake card should not be treated as an ordinary expired one.
In the preview, the tutorial reinforces this same split when the player chooses the Invalid ID path: valid papers proceed, expired papers are refused, and forged documents lead to handcuffs. That agreement supports the decision rule without requiring a list of fabricated document features.
Keep Document Checks Separate From Item Checks
A passenger with valid paperwork can still have prohibited belongings. Likewise, the ID result does not tell you whether a particular object is restricted or contraband; that classification belongs to the item index and the relevant inspection.
A practical routine is to finish the scan, make the appropriate document decision, and then follow the remaining station prompts for anyone allowed to continue. This avoids clearing someone entirely because the scanner displayed a valid card.
The prerelease recording introduces the scanner when its player selects the Invalid ID path. It does not establish a universal calendar day on which every player receives it, so do not interpret one playthrough's schedule as a fixed unlock date.
FAQ
Should I arrest someone with an expired ID?
The official ID Scanner announcement says to deny entry for expired documents. It reserves arrest for a forged ID.
Can a passenger with a valid ID skip the remaining checks?
The recorded inspection continues with belongings and other applicable stations after a valid scan. Passing document control does not establish that the passenger has no prohibited items.
How do I know whether a document is fake?
Use the scanner's result and the station instructions. The supplied material establishes valid, expired, and forged outcomes; it does not provide a separate visual forgery checklist that can replace scanning.