A college student with a fake ID often assumes that it is a minor issue. They might believe that the worst thing that can happen to them is that they will get it taken away from them and kicked out of a bar. The truth is that attempting to use a fake ID is a serious college crime. Keep reading to find out just how serious it can be, then contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 if you require a free legal consultation from an experienced attorney.

It All Starts with the Definition of a Fake ID

One thing people often don’t realize is just what can be legally considered a fake ID. According to California law, it is an ID card issued by the government that the person using it has altered, falsified, reproduced, counterfeited, forged, or duplicated. This includes passports, social security cards, military ID cards, employee ID cards for state or federal employees, driver’s licenses, and non-driver license ID cards. As you can see, this is a long list of documents.

There Are Two Main Charges to Worry About: Possessing and Creating Fake IDs

There are actually two main fake ID charges a person can be charged with. Possessing a fake ID means to have possession of a fake ID or to have the right to control it. This means that a person does not need to actually have the ID on them to get charged – it is enough to have it in their home or vehicle. The second offense is creating a fake ID, which involves making or selling fraudulent ID cards to people who have the intent to use or allow others to use them to commit forgery.

Legal Consequences of Fake ID Charges

Possession of a fake ID can be charged as felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the specifics of the case, the criminal background of the accused, and other factors. If convicted of a felony charge of possession of a fake ID, a person could spend up to three years in prison and pay fines of as much as $10,000. A misdemeanor conviction can result in a year in jail and fines of as much as $1,000.

Creating fake IDs can is also a wobbler (meaning it can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on the specifics of the case). The potential jail terms and fines are the same as they are for possession of a fake ID. However, this charge can also result in the confiscation of any equipment that was used in the creation of the IDs, such as printers, scanners, and computers.

If you have been charged with any crime related to fake IDs, you should contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. You can reach Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for a free legal consultation.