Sec 470b of the California Penal Code reads as follows:
“Every person who displays or causes or permits to be displayed or has in his possession any driver’s license or identification card of the type enumerated in the Section 470a with the intent that such driver’s license or identification card be used to facilitate the commission of any forgery, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year.”
The section being referred to in the aforementioned provision is the law against forging or counterfeiting driver’s licenses or identification cards. These offenses are known as “wobblers”, a criminal offense that can be prosecuted either as a misdemeanor or felony offense. The determination depends on the facts of the case and the criminal history of the accused. The penalty for this misdemeanor violation would be one year in a county jail and a maximum $1,000 fine. For a felony conviction, the penalties would be sixteen months, two years or three years in state prison and payment of a $10,000 fine.
The crime of using fake identification is a serious matter in California. Should you be or know anyone facing any of these charges, do reach out to the lawyers at the Law Offices of Ramiro J. Lluis for a free consultation today.
