Vehicles: identification cards and driver's licenses.

Existing law prohibits the manufacturing or sale of identification documents that are substantially similar to identification cards and driver's licenses issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000, no part of which may be suspended, and 24 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed and is not attending school. This bill would prohibit a person from manufacturing or selling an identification document that purports to confer the same privileges as the identification cards or driver's licenses issued by the department. The bill would revise the penalties under these provisions to require that the fine be not less than $250 and not more than $1,000 and that neither the fine nor the community service may be suspended or waived. The bill would, in lieu of these penalties, authorize the court, in its discretion, to impose a jail term of up to one year and a fine of up to $1,000. In exercising its discretion the bill would require the court to consider the extent of the defendant's commercial motivation for the offense. By expanding the definition of an existing crime and imposing punishment that may include imprisonment of up to one year in jail, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.