Laws regarding fake ID in California?

[Jwinterson423]

What is the name of your state? California

I recently lost my wallet on the bus. The cops found it just the other day, called the number that I left and told the person who answered (I was not there) that they are investigating my fake student ID. It was just a photoshopped piece of paper, not laminated with my picture but someone else's name. No address or other vitals are on student ID's, not sure if that matters. I planned to use this for free bus rides in the town I'm visiting, but never did. Can anyone tell me or point me to a site with possible punishments for this?

 

[FlyingRon]

Forging government-issued ID's with the intent to defraud another (scamming free bus rides) is considered forgery.

 

[Jwinterson423]

Thanks for the reply, Ron. I suppose then that it's a bad idea to go to the police station and claim my lost wallet. I guess the police will put out a warrant for my arrest if they want to go forward with this? Do you know the possible punishments for "forgery?" Is that a misdeameanor or a felony? Again, thank you.

 

[seniorjudge]

Google

california criminal penalty forgery

 

[CdwJava]

Intent might be an issue. However, since intent likely cannot be established without an admission or a witness to the identification being used, the following Penal Code comes to mind:

529.5. (a) Every person who manufactures, sells, offers for sale,
or transfers any document, not amounting to counterfeit, purporting
to be a government-issued identification card or driver's license,
which by virtue of the wording or appearance thereon could reasonably
deceive an ordinary person into believing that it is issued by a
government agency, and who knows that the document is not a
government-issued document, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable
by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine
not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and
imprisonment.
(b) Any person who, having been convicted of a violation of
subdivision (a), is subsequently convicted of a violation of
subdivision (a), is punishable for the subsequent conviction by
imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine
not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both the fine and
imprisonment.
(c) Any person who possesses a document described in subdivision
(a) and who knows that the document is not a government-issued
document is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less
than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not more than two thousand
five hundred dollars ($2,500). The misdemeanor fine shall be imposed
except in unusual cases where the interests of justice would be
served. The court may allow an offender to work off the fine by
doing community service. If community service work is not available,
the misdemeanor shall be punishable by a fine of up to one thousand
dollars ($1,000), based on the person's ability to pay.
(d) If an offense specified in this section is committed by a
person when he or she is under 21 years of age, but is 13 years of
age or older, the court also may suspend the person's driving
privilege for one year, pursuant to Section 13202.5 of the Vehicle
Code.