My Experiences

Back when I was 18, I had just started college and was extremely eager to get into the party scene. I had seen it on TV for most of my life and wanted to experience it for myself. I wasn’t typically the troublemaker type, but I was always curious. I knew buying a fake ID would be the fastest way to get
started. My birthday was still a few months off and I saw everyone else doing it, so I thought, “What’s the harm?”

I managed to get a fake ID through this girl I shared a few classes with and once I had it with me, I was ready to get going. I snuck into a few parties, had a great time and thought it couldn’t possibly get any better than this. But all of that came to a screeching halt when one of the parties I attended was shut down by the campus authorities.

They saw the alcohol lying about and detained us till the police arrived, who carried out an ID check. One by one, I saw my fellow partiers get caught for lying. I was pretty nervous myself and hoped my fake ID was convincing enough. It wasn’t, and I was caught.

The aftermath was embarrassing. Not to mention overwhelming. I had no idea you could go to jail for using a fake ID till it happened to me. I was charged with a misdemeanor and was stuck with a 1-year jail sentence and a $1,000 fine.

I had to reach out to my parents for help because what else would a scared college freshman do? They were disappointed but didn’t want to see me end up in jail either. We had to get a hold of a lawyer to figure something out. And let me just say, that was expensive. Ultimately, I was able to get out of the sentence and did community service because it was a first-time offense. Boy was I lucky!

California Fake ID Laws

So now that you know my embarrassing tale, learn from my mistakes and look over the California state laws regarding fake IDs. Education and awareness are more important than we realize.

According to the California Penal Code, forged ID documents of any kind can be classed as either misdemeanors or felonies. The distinction lies in the context of the fake ID usage. Misdemeanors are given a 1-year jail sentence and fined $1,000, while felonies are given a jail sentence up to 3 years and fined $10,000.

Under the California Penal Code, you can be arrested if you display the intent to commit a forgery. This means that not only do you possess the fake ID, but you have also attempted to use it for the purpose of
deceiving a third party such as a bartender in order to drink while underage.

On top of this, the state has the right to revoke your driver’s license for up to three years. If you do not have one, the state will not permit you to acquire one for an additional year. If caught, your sentence can also include up to 32 hours of community service.

What Counts as a Fake ID?

Now that we understand how fake IDs are penalized, it would be helpful to look at the exact definition of a fake ID under California state law.

Essentially, if you possess identification documents issued by the state which have been intentionally tampered with, it is a criminal offence.
The ID is subject to fake ID laws if it has been compromised in the following ways:

• Altered in any shape or form
• Falsified
• Duplicated
• Reproduced
• Counterfeited
• Forged
  

Impact on Student Life

While the legal complications can be fairly harrowing, what often goes undiscussed is the impact on your day-to-day life as a student. I can tell you from personal experience, things change. The one thing you feel most strongly is the embarrassment. Even if no one says anything to you on campus, you will feel pretty stupid about the entire situation.

 
Of course, your college is going to hold you accountable for what you did. This can include but is not limited to the following punishments:

• Losing eligibility for campus housing
• Removal from university clubs or organizations (can be permanent or temporary)
• Suspended parking privileges
• Prohibited from transferring abroad
• Potentially being expelled from the university
  

In my case, I was no longer allowed to live in the college dorms and was removed from my clubs for my first year. I was eventually permitted to move back in and re-join the clubs, but that was after busting my butt as a student to prove I wasn’t entirely irresponsible.

Lawyers

Lawyers deserve their own section in this article because they are an important part of the situation.

Once you are caught with a fake ID, it’s absolutely necessary to hire a lawyer – specifically, a criminal lawyer. Otherwise, you might get stuck with a harsh sentence and have no way out.

In my case, our lawyer played up the fact that I had no previous criminal record and was able to convince the court to make my sentence lighter. While it was a relief, it was also very expensive to arrive at that point. Lawyers in California charge a lot, especially the ones that can actually help you.

As a university student, I knew my college loans were already putting a financial strain on my parents. On top of that, they had to borrow more money to hire a lawyer. I felt extremely guilty about the situation back then and even now. Granted, I would have had to spend a year in jail if not for our lawyer (which would have been infinitely worse and had far more serious long-term consequences on my life), but there was still guilt and shame attached.

Conclusion

If you are underage and live in California, think twice about using fake IDs. In all honesty, it’s not really worth it. You might think it’s a harmless mistake to get caught using one, but according to California state law, it’s a criminal offense. Your university will also hold you accountable for the mistake, and you will have to bear certain consequences.

Trying to reduce the severity of your sentence is a costly undertaking because lawyers know their worth. However, if you don’t hire a lawyer, your record will reflect a jail sentence, which can jeopardize job
prospects, further education, acquisition of loans, purchase of property or housing, etc.

Overall, it is just messy and it is in your best interest not to get involved with fake IDs. While it can be tempting, I can tell you that the fun of partying and drinking does not compensate for the fear, embarrassment and punishment that come with being caught with a fake ID.