Arizona criminal charge
Falsification of license in Arizona
Falsification of license is a criminal offense under Arizona law, defined by A.R.S. § 28-3476. Its classification is not fixed: Arizona assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by A.R.S. § 28-3476.
What is the penalty for falsification of license in Arizona?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Falsification of a license (base offense) — Applies when a person alters, forges, or counterfeits a driver license or nonoperating identification license and no serious physical injury resulted from the act.; definite term served outside state prison (13-707(A)(1)); prior same offense within 2 years elevates to the next higher class (13-707(B))) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-707 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Falsification of a license (base offense) — Applies when a person alters, forges, or counterfeits a driver license or nonoperating identification license and no serious physical injury resulted from the act.; 13-802(A)) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-707 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 18 months (Falsification of a license resulting in serious physical injury — Applies when serious physical injury, as defined in section 13-105, occurred as a result of the act from which the falsification of a license violation arose.; presumptive 1 year; mitigated .33 years / aggravated 2 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges; a class 6 felony may be designated a class 1 misdemeanor under 13-604) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Falsification of a license resulting in serious physical injury — Applies when serious physical injury, as defined in section 13-105, occurred as a result of the act from which the falsification of a license violation arose.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
Applies to current.
How is falsification of license classified in Arizona?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falsification of a license (base offense) | Class 1 Misdemeanor | Applies when a person alters, forges, or counterfeits a driver license or nonoperating identification license and no serious physical injury resulted from the act. | A.R.S. § 28-3476C |
| Falsification of a license resulting in serious physical injury | Class 6 Felony | Applies when serious physical injury, as defined in section 13-105, occurred as a result of the act from which the falsification of a license violation arose. | A.R.S. § 28-3476C |
Common questions about falsification of license in Arizona
Is falsification of license a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?
It depends on the circumstances: falsification of license ranges from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 6 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 28-3476.
Falsification of a license (base offense): Class 1 Misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 28-3476C) · Falsification of a license resulting in serious physical injury: Class 6 Felony (A.R.S. § 28-3476C)
What are the penalties for falsification of license in Arizona?
Which Arizona statute covers falsification of license?
Falsification of license is governed by A.R.S. § 28-3476 (Falsification of license; classification).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.