720 ILCS 5/31-4.5 – Obstructing Identification

720 ILCS 5/31-4.5 – Obstructing Identification

This law makes it illegal to give fake information to a police officer after being arrested, detained, or questioned about a crime.

This Illinois law says that a person can get in trouble if they lie about their name, address, or birthday to a police officer who has arrested, detained, or believes they are a witness to a crime. Breaking this law is a Class A misdemeanor, which is a serious offense but not a felony.

(a) A person commits this offense when they purposely give a false or made-up name, home address, or date of birth to a police officer who has:

1. Legally arrested them;
2. Legally stopped or held them (detained); or
3. Asked them for information because the officer has good reason to think the person saw a crime happen.

(b) Sentence: The punishment for obstructing identification is a Class A misdemeanor.

View the full statute here.

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