Two Identical Driver's Licesnes - Criminal?

Question

Yeah so its the end of the month and so the police in my city are out in droves. No one in the city likes them so their budget keeps getting cut, but they'd rather write more tickets than fire anyone.

I got pulled over last night and he didn't really have anything on me so long story short, I've been charged with a CRIMINAL offense of having two valid driver's licenses. Both are of me, identical info etc, so its obviously not related to any sort of ID fraud of ill intent. How is it justified that carrying two IDs is a criminal offense?

How do I best argue this case in court?

Basically my dog chewed up the edges of one card so I had a replacement... i'm a criminal LOL

Same number, same name, same picture, same address, same vital info.. literally identical cards other than the dog-caused damage

Answer 1

You neglected to relinquish the older ID when you got the newer one, and therefore broke a law. Unless you can prove that one ID is clearly marked as "DUPLICATE" or that getting these two licenses was because of some kind of error made by the DMV, you're still on the hook. By maintaining two original driver licenses, (not one original, and a duplicate) it will appear to the court that you intending to use them fraudulently in some way.

Answer 2

Is this just two copies? Do they have different drivers license number?

If you applied for and received more than one ID (not just a copy of the ID) it may be a violation of state law.

Answer 3

Youre required by law to give them the old one or destroy it.

Federal charges can apply for this under anti-terrorism laws.

Answer 4

how did he find out that you actually possessed the two id's?
say you lost one & got a new one, only to find the lost one recently.