Many students assume that if they have a fake ID and are caught with it, the worst that could happen is that a clerk or bouncer will take the ID away. In California, this isn’t true. There are actually significant consequences for having a fake ID. While they’re not always charged, at Law Office of Michael L. Fell we’ve seen enough people charged to know that you need a college crimes attorney if you have reason to worry.

Possible penalties of being caught with a fake ID

If you’re convicted of having a fake ID, the minimum penalty is a fine of $250 and / or up to 32 hours of community service. The maximum punishment is a fine of as much as $1,000, six months in jail, and having your driver’s license suspended for a full year. For younger individuals who don’t have a driver’s license yet, being convicted of having a fake ID can result in having to wait another year to get one.

As you can see, these can be significant consequences. In most cases, the minimum punishment is likely to be doled out to first-time offenders, but you always run the chance of pulling a judge who wants to make an example of you. That’s why you need the expert advice and counsel of Law Office of Michael L. Fell.

The potential consequences don’t stop there

You can see that the penalties of being caught with a fake ID are severe enough, but remember that in most cases, there will be other charges. For example, if you were trying to buy alcohol with it, then you could be charged with an additional crime that comes with a penalty of a fine of up to $100, up to 32 hours of community service, and as much as a one-year driver’s license suspension.

Now consider that if you’re caught with the alcohol, your fine could be as much as $250 and you could have the other consequences listed above as well: Up to 32 hours of community service and having your license suspended for a full year. This applies whether you’re caught with the alcohol or are caught having purchased the alcohol.

Finally, consider that if you’re buying alcohol for others who are underage, then you could face further punishment. If you or someone else you know drinks and gets behind the wheel, then the consequences could be quite severe.

Contact a college crimes attorney right away

If you’ve been charged with any of the above crimes, then you need to contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell as soon as possible. We can provide a free consultation to learn more about your case and to let you know what your options are. Don’t listen to the prosecutor when they pressure you to take a plea deal. Never accept a deal without first calling us at (949) 585-9055.