The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years old. Because she is so tall and many people have older friends, getting a fake ID has become a popular way to let a minor into the same places her friends go. While generally not done with malice or any attempt to commit an actual crime, using a fake ID, and even creating one, falls within the purview of ID forgery.

Identity document forgery is the process by which identity documents issued by a governing body, such as a state or country, are copied or altered by an unauthorized person. Commonly counterfeit items include driver’s licenses, birth certificates, social security cards, and passports. Historically, driver’s licenses have been forged or altered to hide the fact that the holder is not old enough to purchase alcohol or some other controlled substance. Social Security cards are forged for identity theft schemes or to defraud the government. Passports are forged to evade restrictions placed on entry into a particular country. For example, Americans are not allowed to enter Cuba, but people with passports from other places may be allowed to enter. A person who really wants to go to Cuba could forge a passport from somewhere else.

Fake ID cards are frequently used for identity theft, age cheating, illegal immigration, and organized crime.

Many people think it’s worth the risk of getting caught with a fake ID. Sites that sell fake IDs talk about how real they look and often provide some sort of guarantee that they won’t get caught. While this is all great, many people get caught up. In many cases, getting caught with a fake ID results in more than a slap on the wrist.

Getting caught with a fake ID often results in being charged with a misdemeanor. Penalties include jail time, fines, community service, and suspension of the person’s actual driver’s license. Having the fake ID is just an offense. Just by possessing the ID, the person is exposed to a variety of other crimes. These offenses include possession of alcohol by a minor and supply of alcohol to minors. While they are “only” misdemeanors, they are still listed on a person’s criminal record.

In addition to causing trouble for the trapped person, the person who made the identification is likely to get into trouble. For more information on all alcohol-related crimes, visit http://www.dallas-dwi-lawyers.com