California vs Pennsylvania - Which one should I get?
Yeah, I've been seeing this question a lot lately. I've been running a PA ID for about 8 months now down here in the South, and honestly, it's been smooth sailing the whole time. The advice I always give people is to go with Pennsylvania over California every single time. CA IDs are just way too overfaked at this point – bouncers and bartenders have seen so many bad copies that they're hyper-vigilant with them. Even a good CA gets held up to the light and stared at for an extra five seconds, which is never fun when you're just trying to get a drink.
Let me break down why PA is the safer pick. The microprint on the PA is surprisingly clean – the "KEYSTONE STATE" line across the top and the tiny text in the background are sharp and consistent. I've checked mine under a loupe and compared it to a buddy's real one, and there's really no giveaway there. UV response is solid too; under blacklight, the state outline and the small "PA" letters glow a nice, even bright blue with no weird hotspots or patchiness. It's not too bright to look fake, but it's definitely there when they check.
The OVI color-shifting on the keystone symbol is probably my favorite part. It flips from a deep copper to a bright green depending on the angle, and the transition is smooth – not that cheap two-tone effect you see on lesser fakes. As for card material feel, it's got that same slightly stiff, polycarbonate-ish texture as the real thing. No peeling edges after months in my wallet, and the laminate hasn't started lifting, which is a common issue with lower-end IDs.
Overall, I'd give this PA ID a solid 9/10. The only thing stopping it from a perfect score is that the raised text on the birth date could be just a tad sharper, but it's still decent. Meanwhile, I know a few guys who tried running CA IDs in the same area and got pulled aside within weeks. You're just painting a target on your back. If you want something that flies under the radar – not too common, not too rare – Pennsylvania is the sweet spot. Stick with that and you'll be golden for a long time.
