Arkansas Compliance Safe
Youth Alcohol Awareness

Is it worth it?

Most students caught with a fake ID or a drink in Arkansas had no idea what came next: a criminal charge, a suspended license, fines and fees, and a record that shows up on background checks. Here's what it really costs.

What a fake ID costs For parents & schools

Caught with a fake ID

In Arkansas, if you're under 21, it's a crime to have a fake or altered ID, or to use one to try to buy alcohol. Here's what happens next.

  1. You're charged with a crime

    A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor. That's a criminal charge, not a ticket. The maximum penalty is 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

    Get caught again and it becomes a Class A misdemeanor: up to 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

    A.C.A. § 5-27-503 · § 5-4-401 · § 5-4-201

  2. You lose your license

    Your driving privileges are suspended for 60 days, even if you weren't driving. A second offense is 120 days, and a third is 1 year.

    A.C.A. § 5-27-503 · Arkansas DFA Driver Services

  3. You pay to get it back

    To reinstate your license you must finish a state alcohol education program, attend a Victim Impact Panel, and pay a $100 reinstatement fee.

    Arkansas DFA Driver Services

  4. You pay court costs

    A misdemeanor in district court adds $100 in court costs on top of the fine, and local fees can add more.

    A.C.A. § 16-10-305

  5. It follows you

    A misdemeanor conviction shows up on background checks for jobs, apartments, college and scholarship applications, and the military, until it's sealed.

    Sealing isn't automatic. The state doesn't charge a filing fee, but you have to petition the court that sentenced you, and most people end up hiring a lawyer to do it.

    A.C.A. § 16-90-1401 et seq. (Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act)

Under 18? Your case usually goes to juvenile court instead. The judge can still suspend your license and order fines, classes, and fees. Turn 18 and do it again, and it's the adult charge above.

The receipt

A fake ID costs less than a pair of shoes online. Getting caught with one can cost more than a semester of textbooks, and that's before the things money can't fix.

  • Weeks without a license: rides to school, work, and practice
  • A criminal record until you get it sealed
  • Explaining the charge in a job or college interview
  • Telling your parents
First fake ID offense
Arkansas · under 21 · maximum amounts
Fine (Class B misdemeanor)up to $1,000
District court costs$100
License reinstatement fee$100
Alcohol education programyou pay
Lawyer (charge and sealing)you pay
Before a lawyerup to $1,200+

The judge sets the actual fine. Program costs, local fees, lost work, and higher insurance aren't included.

Drinking under 21

You don't need a fake ID to get in trouble. Buying or having alcohol under 21, or driving after even one drink, carries its own penalties.

Minor in possession

A.C.A. § 3-3-203
What it is
Buying or having beer, wine, or liquor when you're under 21
The charge
You're arrested and charged in criminal court. A conviction goes on your record and shows up on background checks until it's sealed.
Fine (18–20)
$100 to $500
License (18–20)
Suspended 60 days (second offense 120 days, third 1 year). You hand your license to the officer when you're arrested.
To get it back
Alcohol education program, Victim Impact Panel, $100 reinstatement fee

Under 18, the case goes to juvenile court, and the judge can order a license suspension.

Underage DUI

A.C.A. §§ 5-65-303, 5-65-305 · § 16-10-305
What it is
Driving under 21 with a blood alcohol level of .02 or more. For many people, one drink is enough.
Fine
$100 to $500 for a first offense, up to $2,000 for a third
Court costs
$300
License
Suspended 90 days (second offense 1 year, third until age 21 or 3 years, whichever is longer)
To get it back
Alcohol education program, Victim Impact Panel, reinstatement fee

At .08 or higher, it's a full adult DWI, the same charge an adult would face, no matter your age.

The cost you can't pay back

Fines get paid and licenses come back. A crash can't be undone.

2,148drivers ages 15–20 were killed in U.S. crashes in 2023
30%of them had alcohol in their system

If you've been drinking, don't drive, and don't get in the car with someone who has. Call a parent, a friend, or a ride. That call is always cheaper.

Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts 2023 Data: Young Drivers (DOT HS 813 736).

Short videos for students

Two-minute videos made for classrooms, youth groups, and social media. Free to share.

Coming soonWhat a fake ID really costs

The charge, the license, the fees, and the record, in the order they happen.

Coming soonMinor in possession: what happens next

What happens after an officer finds alcohol in your car or at a party.

Coming soonOne night, one choice

Underage drinking and driving, and the call that's always cheaper.

For parents and schools

Most teens don't know that a fake ID is a criminal charge, or that it can cost them their license before they've been convicted of anything. A five-minute conversation now is easier than a court date later.

Want free printed materials or a presentation for your school, church, or youth group? Tell us about your group.

Request materials

For bars, restaurants, and liquor stores

Our Is It Worth It? door poster lays out what a fake ID costs a customer before they ever reach your counter. It works especially well near college campuses. It's free for Arkansas permit holders.

Tell us your business name, address, and how many posters you need.

Request posters

Send a request

It's free. We'll reply by email, usually within two business days.

I'd like

Need help with alcohol or drugs? The SAMHSA National Helpline is free, confidential, and open 24/7 for individuals and families.

Call 1-800-662-4357

Funded by Arkansas businesses

A portion of every Arkansas Compliance Safe subscription pays for this program. The same bars, restaurants, and stores that check IDs every night are helping make sure fewer students try to get past them.

See how ACS helps permit holders

Sources