Fake IDs are nothing new among college students and teenagers. Today, sophisticated computer design software and printers as well as the open marketplace on the internet make fake IDs easier to come by than ever.
What Is a Fake ID?
A fake ID can either be one that is manufactured with phony identifying information, or it can be borrowing someone else’s drivers license in order to buy alcohol or gain access to an establishment where alcohol is sold.
Using a fake ID to purchase alcohol is a Class 1 misdemeanor in North Carolina. If convicted, you could face:
Up to 45 days of probation (also known as “community punishment”)
A fine, the amount to be determined by a judge
Providing Fake IDs
You could also face criminal charges if you make or sell a fake ID or if you let a minor “borrow” your license to either obtain alcohol or gain entry to an establishment, such as a bar or club, where alcohol is served. This is a Class 1 misdemeanor that will result in the penalties listed above, as well as a one-year revocation of your driver's license.
Is It Identity Theft?
Although using someone else’s drivers license or a fake ID to gain access to an establishment or obtain alcohol may seem like identity theft—as you are falsely using someone else’s identifying information—it is not under the law.
In order to be charged with identity theft in North Carolina, the accused must have used the other person’s identification for financial benefit, to avoid a legal situation or to gain access to something valuable. Alcohol possession and consumption do not fall under this category.
Call (919) 805-3663 to schedule a free case consultation.
