Unlawful Use of a Fictitious or Fraudulently Altered Driver License

What is a Fictitious or Fraudulently Altered driver license?

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the only government agency empowered by the State Legislature and the California Vehicle Code (CVC) to issue the California driver license. The California driver license is only intended for issuance to those persons who have proven lawful residency in the state and have demonstrated they possess the knowledge and skill necessary to drive a motor vehicle.

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The State of California has spent a great deal of time and money to prepare a licensing format as well as a series of redundant security safe guards to ensure the driver license is an instrument of trustworthy identification which is uniquely tied to the lawful card holder.   The state is now issuing a driver license that incorporates a series of holograms, special ink and raised lettering to ensure the document is not easily copied or altered.

It is critically important that the California driver license remain a trustworthy document and that the DMV be permitted to maintain the integrity of its database of information. The holder of the California driver license is permitted to board planes, open banking accounts, and drive motor vehicles based upon the trust placed in the license.

Any alteration, manipulation or restructuring of a California driver license is unlawful. Any photographing photo stating, copying or duplication of a driver license with the intention that it be mistaken for a valid document is unlawful. Essentially, it is intended that the driver license be left untouched and remain as intact as it was when originally delivered to the valid holder. Any action or to change any information whatsoever is a violation of the law.

What laws cover the use of a Fictitious or Fraudulently Altered driver license?

The California State Legislature has outlined a series of laws which control the issuance, possession and use of the California driver license. There are essentially three sections which prohibit the use of fictitious of altered documents:

California Vehicle Code section 14610 (a)(1)…… determines: “It is unlawful for any person to display or cause or permit to be displayed or have in his possession any canceled, revoked, suspended, fictitious, fraudulently altered, or fraudulently obtained driver’s license.”

California Vehicle Code section 14610 (a)(7)…..determines: “it is unlawful for any person to photograph, photostat, duplicate, or in any other way reproduce any driver’s license or facsimile thereof in such a manner that it could be mistaken for a valid license, or to display or have in his possession any such photograph, photostat, duplicate, reproduction, or facsimile unless authorized by this code.”

California Vehicle Code section 14610 (a)(8)……determines: “It is unlawful for any person to alter any driver’s license in any manner not authorized by this code.”

It is perfectly clear that the legislative intent of these laws was that a driver license not be changed in any way, by any person, other than by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

What happens if I am accused of using a Fictitious or Altered driver license?

If the California DMV receives information which suggests you have been involved in a Fraudulent Act involving the possession or use of a fictitious or fraudulently altered driver license, they do have the authority to take action against you. In a case such as this, the DMV may:

• Suspend or revoke any valid driver license you hold, even if it is not the one involved in the fraudulent activity;
• Deny to issue a driver license to you;
• Investigate the case and refer it to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution.

Normally an involved driver will receive notification by mail that the DMV has begun a suspension or revocation action. Most drivers will receive an “Order of Suspension/Revocation” advising that the DMV has begun the action to cancel the person’s driving privilege and that the accused must act quickly or they will be removed from the road. If you receive such a notice in the mail from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, you have no time to waste. Normally, an accused person must contact the Office of Driver Safety within the first 10 to 14 days after receipt of the Order. Don’t let time run out on you. Call CDA today.

If you are accused of the unlawful use of a Fictitious or Fraudulently Altered driver license, call us. We can help you.

The DMV experts at California Drivers Advocates have been fighting to protect the rights of California drivers and residents for many years. We have encountered virtually every form of fictitious or fraudulently altered driver license. In the real world, good people will sometimes makes mistakes. Sometimes, the DMV misinterprets an innocent act as a criminal deed. Either way, with your future on the line, don’t hesitate. Call California Drivers Advocates today. We can step into your case immediately and ensure you are properly protected from the beginning.