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Indiana criminal charge

Misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits in Indiana

Current through 2026 Indiana legislative session

Misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 9-24-18-2. Its classification is not fixed: Indiana 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 Ind. Code § 9-24-18-2.

What is the penalty for misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits in Indiana?

Penalties for Misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 60 days (Misuse of driver's license or permit — A person knowingly or intentionally displays, possesses, lends, misrepresents, fails to surrender, or sells/buys/offers a fictitious, canceled, revoked, suspended, altered, or unissued driver's license or permit as described in (a)(1)-(5).)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-3-4
Fineup to $500 (Misuse of driver's license or permit — A person knowingly or intentionally displays, possesses, lends, misrepresents, fails to surrender, or sells/buys/offers a fictitious, canceled, revoked, suspended, altered, or unissued driver's license or permit as described in (a)(1)-(5).)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-3-4
Jail / prison6 months to 30 months (Application fraud — An individual knowingly or intentionally uses a false name/address, or makes a false statement, conceals a material fact, or otherwise commits fraud in an application for a driver's license or permit, or its renewal, amendment, or replacement.; fixed term; advisory sentence 1 year; court may enter judgment of conviction as a Class A misdemeanor in limited circumstances (IC 35-50-2-7(c)))presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-7
Fineup to $10,000 (Application fraud — An individual knowingly or intentionally uses a false name/address, or makes a false statement, conceals a material fact, or otherwise commits fraud in an application for a driver's license or permit, or its renewal, amendment, or replacement.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-7

Applies to current.

How is misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits classified in Indiana?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Misuse of driver's license or permitClass C MisdemeanorA person knowingly or intentionally displays, possesses, lends, misrepresents, fails to surrender, or sells/buys/offers a fictitious, canceled, revoked, suspended, altered, or unissued driver's license or permit as described in (a)(1)-(5).Ind. Code § 9-24-18-2(a)
Application fraudLevel 6 FelonyAn individual knowingly or intentionally uses a false name/address, or makes a false statement, conceals a material fact, or otherwise commits fraud in an application for a driver's license or permit, or its renewal, amendment, or replacement.Ind. Code § 9-24-18-2(b)

Common questions about misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits in Indiana

Is misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?

It depends on the circumstances: misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits ranges from a Class C Misdemeanor to a Level 6 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 9-24-18-2.

Misuse of driver's license or permit: Class C Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 9-24-18-2(a)) · Application fraud: Level 6 Felony (Ind. Code § 9-24-18-2(b))

What are the penalties for misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits in Indiana?

Penalties for misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Class C Misdemeanor up to a Level 6 Felony — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-3-4 and Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which Indiana statute covers misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits?

Misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits is governed by Ind. Code § 9-24-18-2 (Misuse of licenses and permits; use of false information; inauthentic licenses and permits).

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.