Nobody likes to jump through the ridiculous hoops the DMV requires to get your license, license plate, or any other needed service, but we do it because we don’t have a choice. At least, not any other valid and legal choices, as demonstrated by the topic of today’s blog. A woman has been arrested for Forgery after driving around with a fake license plate on her car, and let me tell you – it wasn’t even a good fake license plate. The woman had taken a piece of cardboard and painted it to resemble a valid license plate. It did not, however, fool the police as the fake was easily spotted and she was pulled over. Click here to see the actual homemade license plate. It looks like a child’s art project. The woman was charged with Forgery, a class 5 felony among other various traffic infractions.
Larimer County Forgery Attorney | What is the Definition?
The Colorado law definition of Forgery in Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County – C.R.S. 18-5-102 – is:
- Part of an issue of money, stamps, securities, or other valuable instruments issued by a government or government agency; or
- Part of an issue of stock, bonds, or other instruments representing interests in or claims against a corporate or other organization or its property; or
- A deed, will, codicil, contract, assignment, commercial instrument, promissory note, check, or other instrument which does or may evidence, create, transfer, terminate, or otherwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status; or
- A public record or an instrument filed or required by law to be filed or legally fileable in or with a public office or public servant; or
- A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or government agency; or
- Part of an issue of tokens, transfers, certificates, or other articles manufactured and designed for use in transportation fees upon public conveyances, or as symbols of value usable in place of money for the purchase of property or services available to the public for compensation; or
- Part of an issue of lottery tickets or shares designed for use in the lottery held pursuant to part 2 of article 35 of title 24, C.R.S.
A document-making implement that may be used or is used in the production of a false identification document or in the production of another document-making implement to produce false identification documents.
[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”95%”]Have you been charged with Forgery or Fictitious Plates? Contact the experienced attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today![/pullquote]
Fictitious Plates and Vehicle Registration Crimes in Larimer County.
Another crime the woman would be charged with in Colorado involves the use or display of fictitious plates. People often use month or year stickers belonging to another vehicle which does not run, on a vehicle which does. This might save the higher tax payment on the newer vehicle. Other people simply transfer the entire license plate. Or, of course, as in our story above, someone might make their own plate. Here are the provisions of Colorado’s Fictitious Plate and Vehicle Registration statute – C.R.S. 42-3-121:
(a) To operate or permit the operation, upon a highway, of a motor vehicle subject to registration under this article or to possess or control a trailer coach or trailer that is not registered and does not display the number plates issued for such vehicle or trailer coach for the current year, except for trailer coaches or trailers owned by a licensed dealer or licensed manufacturer while being held for sale or resale or while operated on the streets or highways with dealer plates or depot tags authorized pursuant to section 42-3-116;
(b) To display or permit to be displayed, to have in possession, or to offer for sale a certificate of title, validation tab or sticker, or registration number plate knowing the same to be fictitious or to have been stolen, cancelled, revoked, suspended, or altered;
(c) To lend to or knowingly permit the use by one not entitled thereto a certificate of title, registration card, or registration number plate issued to the lending or permitting person;
(d) To fail or refuse to surrender to the department, upon demand, a certificate of title, registration card, or registration number plate that has been suspended, cancelled, or revoked;
(e) To use a false name or address, to knowingly make a false statement, or to knowingly conceal a material fact in an application for the registration, renewal registration, or duplicate registration of a motor vehicle;
(f) To use or permit the use of a noncommercial or recreational vehicle to transport cargo or passengers for profit or hire or in a business or commercial enterprise;
(g) To use or permit the use of a truck or truck tractor registered as a collector’s item pursuant to section 42-12-401 (1) (c) to transport cargo or passengers for profit or hire or in a business or commercial enterprise;
(h) To drive or permit to be driven a truck or truck tractor registered as a collector’s item pursuant to section 42-12-401 (1) (c) for any purpose other than those purposes allowed in section 42-12-401 (1) (c).
(2) (a) A person who violates paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.
(b) A person who violates paragraph (b), (d), or (e) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense.
(c) A person who violates paragraph (f) or (g) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.
Fort Collins Forgery Sentence / Punishment
As a class 5 felony in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Forgery is punishable by 1 to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $100,000 in fines. Because the woman violated part (e) of the definition above, she could be facing this serious felony penalty. Anytime a person alters or makes something that is supposed to be issued by the government, it can be considered Forgery. This can extend to a temporary license plate as well. People may be tempted to change the expiration date if they haven’t been able to get to the DMV, but it can cost you years of your life.
For the worse case Fictitious Plate or Vehicle Registration law violation, 1(b) above, the accused is looking at a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, which can result in a 10 to 90 days Larimer County Jail sentence.