State and federal laws generally prohibit the possession, use, manufacture, or distribution of a false or fake driver’s license, identification card, military ID, passport, state or federal employee identification card, or other identification documents (fake ID). The legal definition of a fake ID is generally an ID that has been (1) altered, (2) falsified, (3) forged, (4) duplicated, (5) reproduced, or (6) counterfeited.

In many states, possession of a fake ID may be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony, with fines, community service, probation, suspension of driver’s license, and possible jail time. Some colleges and universities impose additional penalties on students who are convicted of possessing a fake ID—including dismissal from the college or university. And fraud in connection with identification documents may also be a federal crime. See 18 U.S. Code §1028.

Fake ID laws are usually located in a state’s statutes—in the penal or criminal code, the alcoholic beverage code, or the transportation or motor vehicle code.

In Pennsylvania (PA), it is illegal to possess, use, manufacture, or distribute a fake ID. The state's laws define a fake ID as any identification that has been altered, falsified, forged, duplicated, reproduced, or counterfeited. The penalties for fake ID offenses in PA can vary, but they may include misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the severity of the offense. Consequences can range from fines and community service to probation, suspension of the offender's driver's license, and even jail time. Additionally, colleges and universities in PA may impose their own sanctions on students caught with fake IDs, which can include expulsion. On the federal level, fraudulent activities related to identification documents are criminalized under 18 U.S. Code §1028, which can lead to significant penalties, including imprisonment. The relevant state laws can be found in Pennsylvania's penal or criminal code, the alcoholic beverage code, or the transportation or motor vehicle code.