[droithomme]

It's actually not always illegal to create or possess a fake ID. It depends on the state and what you do with it. Some states it's illegal always. In California though as an example here's the law:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySectio...

> 470b. Every person who displays or causes or permits to be displayed or has in his or her possession any driver’s license or identification card of the type enumerated in Section 470a with the intent that the driver’s license or identification card be used to facilitate the commission of any forgery, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.

You have to have the intent to commit a forgery. This is defined elsewhere but means to use the id to commit fraud.

So you have a novelty id that says your name is Mickey Mouse and you are 100 years old. You show it to your friends. Or maybe you get one as a gag gift for a friend. Not illegal in California. Using a fake id to misrepresent your age for legal purposes such as buying alcohol, tobacco, firearms, voting, acting in porn? Very illegal.