CHAPTER 15, ILCS, ILLINOIS IDENTIFICATION CARD VIOLATIONS

15 ILCS 335/14A

Sec. 14A. Fictitious or unlawfully altered identification card.

Illinois Compiled Statute
15 ILCS 335/14A
Offense Description
Fictitious or unlawfully altered Identification Card – Class 4 felony
Offense Classification
Class 4 Felony
Statutory Penalties & Sentencing Scope
1 to 3 years IDOC (Probation eligible) · Fine up to $25,000
Supreme Court Rule 551 Mandatory Court Appearance
Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.
SAFE-T Act Pretrial Detention Eligibility (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1)
Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.
Secretary of State Driver's License Action
Standard Administrative Protocol: No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.
EXECUTIVE SYNOPSIS · ILLINOIS LEGAL STANDARDS Governing Authority: ILGA & Supreme Court Rules

Under Illinois law, 15 ILCS 335/14A (Fictitious or unlawfully altered Identification Card – Class 4 felony) is classified as a Class 4 Felony. Statutory sentencing scope: 1 to 3 years IDOC (Probation eligible) · Fine up to $25,000. Court appearance is mandatory under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, and pretrial release is presumptively release-eligible under the SAFE-T Act.

Offense Class & Sentencing Scope Class 4 Felony

1 to 3 years IDOC (Probation eligible) · Fine up to $25,000

Court Appearance Mandate Rule 551 Mandatory Court

Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.

Pretrial Fairness Act (SAFE-T Act) Presumptive Pretrial Release

Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.

Secretary of State License Sanction Standard Administrative Protocol

No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.

Classification Class 4 Felony
Court Appearance Mandatory Court Appearance (Rule 551)
SAFE-T Act Detention Release Eligible (Conditions Apply)
SOS Reporting Code 8180

Associated Offense Codes & Classifications (1)

Offense Description Class Court Mandate SAFE-T Act Reporting Code Official ILGA
Fictitious or unlawfully altered Identification Card – Class 4 felony Official ILGA · 15 ILCS 335/14A -> Class 4 Felony Rule 551 Mandate Release Eligible 8180 ILGA.gov ->

Illinois General Assembly Statutory Text (Verbatim)

Source: ilga.gov ->

Sec. 14A. Fictitious or unlawfully altered identification card.

(a)

(a) As used in this Section:

1. "A fictitious identification card" means any issued identification card for which a computerized number and file have been created by the Secretary of State, the United States Government, any other state or political subdivision thereof, or any governmental or quasi-governmental organization that contains false information concerning the identity of the individual issued the identification card. 2. "False information" means:

(A)

(A) Any information concerning an individual's legal name, address, sex, date of birth, or social security number that (i) falsifies all or in part the actual identity of the individual issued the identification card, (ii) in the case of information concerning an address, is information concerning a non-existent address that is used to obtain the identification card, or (iii) is any combination of items (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph (A). (B) Any photograph that falsifies all or in part the actual identity of the individual issued the identification card. 3. "An unlawfully altered identification card" means any issued identification card for which a computerized number and file have been created by the Secretary of State, the United States Government, any other state or political subdivision thereof, or any governmental or quasi-governmental organization that has been physically altered or changed in such a manner that false information appears upon the identification card. 4. "A document capable of defrauding another" includes, but is not limited to, any document by which any right, obligation, or power with reference to any person or property may be created, transferred, altered, or terminated. 5. An "identification document" or "identification card" means any document made or issued by or under the authority of the United States Government, the State of Illinois, or any other state or political subdivision thereof, or any other governmental or quasi-governmental organization which, when completed with information concerning the individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of an individual. (b) It is a violation of this Section for any person:

1. To knowingly possess, display, or cause to be displayed any fictitious or unlawfully altered identification card; 2. To knowingly possess, display, or cause to be displayed any fictitious or unlawfully altered identification card for the purpose of obtaining any account, credit, credit card, or debit card from a bank, financial institution, or retail mercantile establishment; 3. To knowingly possess any fictitious or unlawfully altered identification card with the intent to commit a theft, deception, or credit or debit card fraud in violation of any law of this State or any law of any other jurisdiction; 4. To knowingly possess any fictitious or unlawfully altered identification card with the intent to commit any other violation of any law of this State or any law of any other jurisdiction for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in a penitentiary for one year or more is provided; 5. To knowingly possess any fictitious or unlawfully altered identification card while in unauthorized possession of any document, instrument, or device capable of defrauding another; 6. To knowingly possess any fictitious or unlawfully altered identification card with the intent to use the identification card to acquire any other identification document; 7. To knowingly issue or assist in the issuance of any fictitious identification card; 8. To knowingly alter or attempt to alter any identification card; 9. To knowingly manufacture, possess, transfer, or provide any identification document whether real or fictitious for the purpose of obtaining a fictitious identification card; 10. To make application for the purpose of obtaining a fictitious identification card for another person; 11. To obtain the services of another person to make application for the purpose of obtaining a fictitious identification card. (c) Sentence.

1. Any person convicted of a violation of paragraph 1, 10, or 11 of subsection (b) of this Section shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony and shall be sentenced to a minimum fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service, preferably at an alcohol abuse prevention program, if available. 2. Any person convicted of a violation of paragraph 1 of subsection (b) of this Section who at the time of arrest had in his possession two or more fictitious or unlawfully altered identification cards shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. 3. Any person convicted of a violation of paragraph 2 through 9 of subsection (b) of this Section shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony. (d) This Section does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, law enforcement or other activity of any agency of the United States, State of Illinois, or any other state or political subdivision thereof.

(Source: P.A. 96-1120, eff. 1-1-11.)

Frequently Asked Questions & Legal Analysis

Authoritative Statutory Guidance
What is the statutory penalty and sentencing range for 15 ILCS 335/14A in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, 15 ILCS 335/14A (Fictitious or unlawfully altered Identification Card – Class 4 felony) is classified as a Class 4 Felony.

Sentencing Scope: 1 to 3 years IDOC (Probation eligible) · Fine up to $25,000

Is a court appearance mandatory for 15 ILCS 335/14A under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551?

Mandatory Personal Appearance Required: Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.

Is an individual accused of 15 ILCS 335/14A detainable before trial under the SAFE-T Act?

Presumptive Pretrial Release: Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.

What Secretary of State driver's license sanctions apply to 15 ILCS 335/14A?

Standard Administrative Protocol: No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.

Official Legal Citation Formats

Legal & Academic Reference

Standardized legal citations for briefs, court pleadings, law enforcement documentation, and academic research.

Illinois Supreme Court Citation 15 ILCS 335/14A (West 2026)
The Bluebook Style (21st ed.) 15 Ill. Comp. Stat. 335/14A (2026)
Canonical Web Reference https://ilcsindex.com/statutes/15-ilcs-335-14a
Cross-Referenced ILCS Codes