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 Montana (MT), state and federal laws strictly prohibit the possession, use, creation, or distribution of fake identification documents, including driver's licenses and other forms of ID. Under Montana law, having a fake ID can lead to being charged with a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances of the offense. Penalties for such violations can include fines, community service, probation, suspension of one's driver's license, and even imprisonment. Additionally, colleges and universities in Montana may impose their own sanctions on students caught with fake IDs, which can range from disciplinary action to 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. The specific statutes pertaining to fake IDs in Montana can be found in the state's penal code, as well as codes dealing with alcoholic beverages and motor vehicles.