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What Happens If You Get Caught With A Fake ID in Illinois

Published on April 6th, 2023

If you’re caught either with or attempting to use a government-issued identification card, you can face some serious consequences in the state of Illinois.

Depending on the situation where you attempted to use or are caught with a fake ID, you can face hefty fines, a misdemeanor, a felony, or even jail time.

According to this legislation under the Illinois General Assembly, it is illegal to possess, duplicate or attempt to use a fake ID. Possession alone is considered to be a Class 4 Felony that could result in $500 to $25,000 in fines and at least 50 hours of community service. The fine amount and range of community service entirely depend on the situation where you were caught with a fake ID.

An individual attempting to use a fake ID could see more severe legal consequences. Just some of the situations that could lead to heavier fines and charges include:

  • Accessing financial information
  • Committing other crimes
  • Obtaining documents that can be used for identification purposes
  • Possessing a device capable of fraud or creating more fraudulent IDs

The charges for these crimes range between a Class 3 Felony and a Class A misdemeanor in the State of Illinois. In addition to felony or misdemeanor charges, an individual can also face between 1 to 5 years worth of jail time, $2,500 to $25,000 in fines, 30 to 48 months probation, and over 50 hours of community service.

Fraudulent Use Of A Driver’s License To Purchase Alcohol or Tobacco Products

This is among the most common fraudulent ID crimes that high school and college students face. If a minor is caught attempting to purchase alcohol or tobacco with a fake ID or driver’s license, here are the consequences they can face if they’re caught by law enforcement:

  1. Driver’s license suspension for at least one year
  2. A friend who loans their license to a minor to purchase alcohol can face a $2,500 fine.
  3. Similar to the financial and criminal charges listed above, you could face up to a Class 4 Felony, three years in prison, and $25,000 in fines.

Man looking at drivers license

Did An Illinois Police Officer Suspend Or Revoke Your License Due To Fraud?

If you’re in trouble for attempted use or the possession of a fake ID, then you need to contact an experienced defense lawyer as soon as possible. The legal team with Johnson & Goldrich, P.C. can help you get your driving privileges back and fight against any additional charges you might face.

If you’re facing criminal charges for a fake driver’s license, permit, or other federal ID, contact our attorneys for help now.

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