Florida vs Pennsylvania - Which is easier to use?
Yeah, I’ve been through both Florida and Pennsylvania copies over the last couple years, and I gotta say – the original post is spot on about the geographic thing. If you’re anywhere in the Northeast, seriously go with PA. Bouncers up here see so many FL fakes that they almost automatically run through a mental checklist on them. PA is just a lot less suspicious in that region.
So here's the real breakdown, since that’s what matters when you’re handing it over. Microprint accuracy is a big one – on a solid PA, the fine line work around the keystone and the border text is usually crisp. I've seen some reps where the microprint near the “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” is actually readable under a loupe, which is rare for a lot of other states. Florida tends to have really fine microprint around the alligator and the state outline, but a lot of the budget versions blur those lines together into a solid smear. If the bouncer knows where to look, that’s an instant red flag.
UV response is another giveaway. PA’s UV pattern is fairly simple – the state outline and a matching “PA” glow in a bright whitish-blue under blacklight. It’s consistent and not too overpowering. Florida’s UV is way more complex with the state outline, the alligator, and a whole bunch of little palm trees scattered around. The problem is, many FL copies use a UV ink that comes out way too bright – like artificial neon – or sometimes it just doesn’t light up at all. The real FL has a soft, even glow. I've handed over a PA and watched the bouncer just glance at it under UV and nod. With FL, I've had them hold it under the light for a good five seconds while they look for all the correct elements.
OVI – that color-shifting ink on the keystone for PA. On a good copy, it shifts from green to gold when you tilt it. It’s a small spot, so it’s easier to replicate convincingly. Florida has OVI on the state outline and the alligator, and it’s supposed to shift from gold to green. The problem is the shift is usually weaker on reps – sometimes it just looks like gold paint that barely changes, or it shifts way too fast. I've seen some where the color doesn’t match the real card at all.
Card material feel is where PA really wins for the Northeast. The real PA ID has a nice stiffness, slightly flexible but not flimsy. Most decent copies use a polycarb laminate that feels similar – not too waxy, not too slick. Florida cards are thinner and more flexible in real life. A lot of FL fakes are made on PVC that’s either too rigid or too bendy, and you can feel the difference when you bend it to check. Plus, FL cards have that raised text for the issue date, which is a pain to replicate. Very few FL reps get the tactile feel right – the raised text ends up feeling like a sticker.
So overall, if I'm putting a number on it, I'd give a solid PA copy a 8.5/10 for use in the Northeast, maybe a 7/10 if you try using it down south. Florida gets a 6/10 in general just because of the extra scrutiny, even if the copy itself is decent – the raised text and UV complexity make it hard to get all the details right. For ease of use, PA all the way. Less complex design = less to screw up, and less suspicion in the region where you’re most likely to use it.