Michelle Basch, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – The element of surprise is helping local police catch underage drinkers.

Police at the University of Maryland entered two bars Tuesday in College Park to double-check the IDs and ages of patrons knocking back drinks inside.

By the end of the night, police had issued 14 citations for either fake IDs or underage drinking.

The Diamondback reports the citations could lead to fines of between $500 and $1,000 each.

The checks were done inside the Barking Dog and R.J. Bentley’s, and are made possible through a $30,000 dollar grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.

The grant money is meant specifically to fight underage drinking.

University police are promising to show up without warning at more bars in the future.

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