Long Branch Fake ID Lawyers

Having a fake ID in the state of New Jersey can come with some serious consequences. In New Jersey, being caught in possession of a fake ID is a criminal offense. While it may appear a minor offense, it can result in penalties that affect the rest of your life. Whether one is caught possessing a manufactured legal document or whether they’re the one doing the manufacturing, results could be as serious as jail time.

A fake ID is considered to be a document, used to identify a person, that has been augmented or changed to appear like it was issued by a state or federal government. Commonly forged government IDs are birth certificates, state driver’s licenses, and passports. Explore with our lawyers what a fake ID conviction is and what factors determine the severity of the penalty when you have been charged with possessing, manufacturing, or altering to create fake identification.

If you are accused of a fake ID offense in Monmouth County, New Jersey, you should contact the team of criminal defense lawyers at Chamlin, Uliano, & Walsh. We have represented clients facing charges for this sort of conduct and its repercussions in Belmar, Asbury Park, Freehold, Red Bank, Manasquan, Lake Como, and other communities in Monmouth County and the Jersey Shore. Reach out to us at (732) 440-3950 for a consultation.

Charges for Fake Identification “Fake ID” in New Jersey

Depending on your age and the degree of the charges you face for a Fake ID, the possible consequences of getting caught possessing, using, or manufacturing a fake ID are serious. Generally speaking, legal adults face much harsher penalties than juveniles, though juveniles are by no means let off the hook in New Jersey. Remember, possessing a fake ID is a criminal charge, some of which are charged as disorderly persons offenses (misdemeanors), while others are charged as indictable offenses (felonies) with larger penalties than misdemeanor offenses.

False Government Documents Offense

Depending on the nature of the action leading to a fake ID charge, consequences vary. If one is caught in possession of a fake ID, they can be charged with a fourth degree crime in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1, Offenses involving false government documents. While fourth degree crimes are the least serious indictable crimes in nature, they carry felony status. For that reason, consequences are much more serious than misdemeanors or disorderly persons charges as they’re called in New Jersey. Possession of a fake ID in New Jersey carries with it the possibility of 18 months in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Because it is a criminal charge, the conviction will also be a stain on your criminal record.

The consequences for possessing a fake ID are not nearly as severe as being caught using a fake ID when the false document leads to charges under 2C:21-2.1. Using a fake ID in order to attempt to falsify identity is a third degree felony offense in New Jersey. Penalties include three to five years in prison and a $15,000 financial penalty. The most severe fake ID crime in New Jersey is manufacturing falsified legal documents for sale or use. Producing multiple documents or selling false documents could result in a second degree felony conviction, which carries a jail sentence of between 10 and 15 years and a fine of up to $150,000.

Tampering with Public Records Offense

In many cases, fake ID charges are filed as disorderly persons offenses, which are New Jersey’s misdemeanor equivalent. In these cases, which are handled at the local Municipal Court as opposed to the Superior Court in the county, the defendant faces $1,000 in fines maximally and up to 6 months in the county jail. Typically, a person is charged with a disorderly persons offense in violation of the Tampering with Public Records and Information Statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7, if they are in possession of fake identification or alter such identification for the purposes of possessing or consuming alcohol underage. This often happens to minors and young people in Ocean and Monmouth County and throughout the Jersey Shore area.

Conditions for Expungement of a Fake ID Offense

Whether or not a fake ID charge can be expunged depends on the age of the offender. Adults convicted of such a crime face having the conviction on their criminal record permanently unless they obtain an expungement. Juveniles, however, may be adjudicated delinquent for a fake ID disorderly persons offense which only appears on their juvenile record, as opposed to their adult criminal record.

Get in Touch with an Asbury Park Fake ID Defense Attorney for Help with Your Criminal Charges

A criminal defense attorney is one of the most important assets you can have when you or someone you love is facing a fake ID charge. The possible impact of a fake ID conviction, whether it be for tampering with public records or false government documents, can be devastating for you or your child in New Jersey. Whether it be a disorderly persons offense or an indictable crime of the second, third, or fourth degree, too much is at to risk not have an experienced criminal defense lawyer fighting on your behalf for a dismissal, an alternative program like conditional dismissal or Pretrial Intervention (PTI), or the largest reduction possible in the penalties you face. If your juvenile son or daughter has been charged with possessing or using a false ID, protecting their future is essential.

If you have been charged with possessing, using, manufacturing, or selling a fake government ID, our team at Chamlin, Uliano, & Walsh has more than 50 years of experience successfully defending clients in criminal cases in Holmdel, Sea Bright, Bradley Beach, Sea Girt, Tinton Falls, Long Branch, and neighboring areas around Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Our criminal defense lawyers are here to ensure that your case is handled professionally, skillfully, personally, and with complete dedication to achieving the best possible resolution. Contact our West Long Branch office at (732) 440-3950 for a confidential consultation regarding your fake ID case and find out more about how we can help.