California · Vehicle Code

VEH §13004.1: (a) A person shall not manufacture or sell an identification document of a size and form substantially similar to, or that purports to confer the same privileges as, the identification cards issued by

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person cannot manufacture or sell fake identification documents that resemble or claim the same privileges as official department-issued ID cards. Violation is a misdemeanor with fines, community service, or up to one year jail.

Read the full statutory text
(a) A person shall not manufacture or sell an identification document of a size and form substantially similar to, or that purports to confer the same privileges as, the identification cards issued by the department. (b) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable as follows: (1) The court shall impose a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and 24 hours of community service, to be served when the person is not employed or is not attending school. No part of the fine or community service shall be suspended or waived. (2) In lieu of the penalties imposed under paragraph (1), the court, in its discretion, may impose a jail term of up to one year and a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). In exercising its discretion the court shall consider the extent of the defendant’s commercial motivation for the offense. (c) Prosecution under this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other applicable provision of law.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.