Legality of Novelty IDs

[ScottH]

Me and a friend are having a slight difference of opinion on the legality of novelty IDs. We both agree it's illegal to use a fake ID that looks identical to one that is government issued. I said to get around this you make a novelty ID. As zengrifter mentioned, change the wording around a little bit and add some remark on the back that makes it clearly novelty. My friend still thinks this is illegal because you are trying to get it to pass as a government issued ID still. Even though it is changed slightly, you are still intending it to look like a government issued ID. Anyone familiar with the law here?

Let's say I were to use a novelty ID that was slightly altered, and was caught, what would happen?

[halcyon1234]

Originally Posted by ScottH

Me and a friend are having a slight difference of opinion on the legality of novelty IDs. We both agree it's illegal to use a fake ID that looks identical to one that is government issued. I said to get around this you make a novelty ID. As zengrifter mentioned, change the wording around a little bit and add some remark on the back that makes it clearly novelty. My friend still thinks this is illegal because you are trying to get it to pass as a government issued ID still. Even though it is changed slightly, you are still intending it to look like a government issued ID. Anyone familiar with the law here?

Let's say I were to use a novelty ID that was slightly altered, and was caught, what would happen?

Here's a Yahoo answers discussion on it:

http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/qu...1112345AATxliW

From what I understand, if you get caught at the door, you'll be bounced for sure. If security feels like being a dick, they can call the cops and have you arrested. If you get passed the door and fail an ID check at cashout, they won't pay you. I don't know what will happen to your initial buy-in.

[ChefJJ]

Originally Posted by ScottH

Me and a friend are having a slight difference of opinion on the legality of novelty IDs. We both agree it's illegal to use a fake ID that looks identical to one that is government issued. I said to get around this you make a novelty ID. As zengrifter mentioned, change the wording around a little bit and add some remark on the back that makes it clearly novelty. My friend still thinks this is illegal because you are trying to get it to pass as a government issued ID still. Even though it is changed slightly, you are still intending it to look like a government issued ID. Anyone familiar with the law here?

Let's say I were to use a novelty ID that was slightly altered, and was caught, what would happen?

Each state's statutes are a bit different with about anything, but for the most part, you are using it as a govt ID (e.g. drivers license)...and that carries the same punishment as using an invalid/altered govt ID. I'd say that using it at a casino would be a bit more ballsier than at the college bars. Nobody gives too much of a crap there.

[ScottH]

I don't know if it makes a difference here, but I will not be using the card for illegal purposes since I am 21. Does that change anything?

[shadroch]

If you are doing something that you would be ashamed of having it publicly revealed,thus the need for fake id,the answer should be self-evident.Maybe instead of asking if your action is legal,you should question yourself to see if it is moral.

[zengrifter]

My position is that noveltyIDs are both legal and moral for casino AP use... BUT, do not get caught with multiple IDs in your possession. zg

[ChefJJ]

Originally Posted by ScottH

I don't know if it makes a difference here, but I will not be using the card for illegal purposes since I am 21. Does that change anything?

Yeah. But as ZG said, don't have multiple IDs. Of course, if you are in a casino you'll probably need your real ID. Tough call.

[ScottH]

Originally Posted by shadroch

If you are doing something that you would be ashamed of having it publicly revealed,thus the need for fake id,the answer should be self-evident.Maybe instead of asking if your action is legal,you should question yourself to see if it is moral.

I don't care about the morality of the issue. I just care about the legal consequences.

Even though I don't care if it is moral or not, I don't see why using a novelty ID would be immoral if I am 21. Do you have a reason why it would be? I'm not doing anyone any harm by using it...

[ScottH]

Originally Posted by zengrifter

My position is that noveltyIDs are both legal and moral for casino AP use... BUT, do not get caught with multiple IDs in your possession. zg

Why would it be bad to be caught with a novelty ID if they are not illegal? You would have one legal ID, and one legal novelty ID. What could happen if I were to be caught with both of those?

[ChefJJ]

Originally Posted by ScottH

Why would it be bad to be caught with a novelty ID if they are not illegal? You would have one legal ID, and one legal novelty ID. What could happen if I were to be caught with both of those?

I think the impression you made originally was that the novelty ID would falsely identify you as someone else...that's why you wouldn't want to have both. I get your drift now.

From a legal standpoint, casinos or whatever most likely will not accept a novelty ID for official identification, so I doubt it would get you in "trouble' per se. It just may be worthless. The circumstances you are asking about have a lot of grey area, so it's hard to answer your question straight.

Good luck with it though