If a law enforcement agent identifies himself or herself as an officer, then you are required to show a validly issued, government identification. Further, the police are required to notify your parents or guardians if you’re charged for either a first or subsequent use of a fake ID. For this offense, you may have to pay a fine not to exceed $500. However, if you’re caught subsequently for carrying false identification, and you’re under the age of 21, then you’ll face a misdemeanor of the third degree. If you complete the program successfully, the court may dismiss any pending charges against you, relieving you of any potential jail time or fines. If this is your first offense, then the court may require you to participate in a pre-adjudication program, which can include community work, counseling, or other self-improvement activities. Often, a summary offense will not carry jail time but will result in a monetary penalty. For a summary offense in Pennsylvania, you could face up to 90 days in jail and a fine up to $300. In Pennsylvania, a summary offense is a minor type of criminal offense, often called a non-traffic citation. Let’s address them one by one: Carrying a False IdentificationĪs either a minor or an adult, if you are caught carrying a fake ID, you’ve committed a summary offense. Using a fake ID to purchase, consume, possess, or transport alcohol.Presenting a false ID to law enforcement.The Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes address the illegal use of a fake ID in three areas: Let’s first look at using a fake ID in Pennsylvania. Since approaching all 56 jurisdictions may be too voluminous, let’s focus on what happens if you use a fake ID in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. It’s a serious criminal offense carrying severe penalties, such as suspension of your license, hefty fines, or even jail time. Obtaining and using a fake ID is not just fun and games. Additionally, each jurisdiction has penalties for using a fake ID, for the purchase of alcohol by minors or for any other reason. Each jurisdiction updates their government-issued IDs frequently, including modernizing sophisticated security features, making it more difficult to create false identifications.
Penalties for Possessing a Fake IDĬurrently, 56 jurisdictions in the United States issue legal, government driver licenses and non-driver identifications, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. But, statistics tying fake IDS to underage drinking, or any other activity, are severely lacking. For example, underage drinking costs the United States approximately $57 billion annually. However, these findings aren’t broken down into valid ID vs. According to Real Identities, LLC, a Silicon Valley company that teaches gatekeepers to check IDs thoroughly, a significant number of statistics exist regarding underage drinking and driving. However, using a fake ID in any jurisdiction comes with heavy penalties. Some may think it’s a teenager’s right of passage to acquire a fake ID, whether through purchase, obtaining one from an older friend, or altering a legal ID. You may have a suitemate or a friend on campus that has quite the underground operation. Some fake ID operators receive 10,000 inquiries on a single day however, smaller operations exist as well, especially on college campuses. For a single, online operator, sales can exceed $1M, illustrating that false IDs are in demand. High-quality fake IDs sell anywhere from $50 – $200. The business of providing false identifications is no small venture. Breast Implants and Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Traumatic Birth Injuries, Wrongful Birth, and Other Traumatic Events at Birth Is Artificial Intelligence Taking Over the Law? Motorcycles: Safety, The Law and What to Do If You’re in an Accident Penalties for Using a Fake ID in Pennsylvania and New Jersey UBER Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Claims Legality of Mandatory Mask Wearing in The COVID-19 Climate Mail-In Ballots In the Presidential Election: Legal or Not? Airline Liability in Planes Malfunctioning Wrongful Conviction, Forced Confessions, Police Misconduct and Evidence Tampering Growing Fear of More Building Collapses Due to Climate Change