Young people in Oregon may want to be older than they are. While adults pine for their youth, many young adults wish they had the privileges of older individuals. In some cases, this may lead young people to lie about their age in public.
A little white lie about a person's age may not seem like a big deal. However, in Oregon, it can lead to criminal charges in certain situations. Under section 165.805 of the Oregon criminal code, it is a Class C misdemeanor to misrepresent a person's age in some cases.
If a person claims to be older than the person is in order to claim some benefit, right or privilege that is reserved for older individuals, the person can be found guilty of misrepresentation of age by a minor. The person in the situation must knowingly claim to be older than the individual actually is. This could apply in situations where minors under the age of 21 years old are trying to obtain alcohol, for example. However, it is not necessarily limited to the sale of alcohol.
When it comes to alcohol, individuals who use a driver's license issued by the Department of Transportation in Oregon -- or the DOT of another state -- in order to purchase alcohol as a minor, the individual can face enhanced penalties. Specifically, the court can order that the person's driver's license be suspended for up to one year. The court can also order community service in this situation.
There are many situations where individuals may want to be older than they are. If a person knowingly uses a different age in order to receive a benefit, criminal charges can follow. Misdemeanor charges in Oregon can result in a variety of penalties including jail time. By speaking with an attorney, individuals may be able to avoid some of these penalties.
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