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 South Carolina, the possession, use, manufacture, or distribution of a fake ID is illegal under state law. This includes any identification that has been altered, falsified, forged, duplicated, reproduced, or counterfeited. The state's laws regarding fake IDs can be found in various statutes, including those related to criminal offenses and motor vehicles. Depending on the circumstances, having a fake ID can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, leading to penalties such as fines, community service, probation, suspension of a driver's license, and even jail time. Additionally, colleges and universities in South Carolina may impose their own sanctions on students caught with fake IDs, which could include expulsion. On the federal level, fraudulent activities involving identification documents are criminalized under 18 U.S. Code §1028, which can lead to serious federal charges and penalties.