Amnesty Is Offered in Bogus-License Case

Motorists involved in an alleged driver’s-license doctoring scheme have until the end of the month to turn in the fake credentials with no penalty, under an amnesty program announced by the Irvine Police Department.

Those who take advantage of the amnesty offer will not be subject to criminal prosecution, nor will their licenses be suspended or revoked by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Paul Howard Schwartz, an 18-year-old University High School student, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of operating a $1,000-a-week business doctoring licenses.

Authorities were led to Schwartz after a two-month investigation in which undercover officers turned over their own licenses to him for doctoring.

Licenses Recovered

Investigators said they recovered from Schwartz’s home more than 100 valid driver’s licenses that were set to be altered. Most of them had addresses from outside of Irvine, investigators said.

Schwartz, who lives with his parents, was released last week on his own recognizance.

Irvine police first began to suspect that some sort of bogus-license shop was operating when an increasing number of drivers they stopped for traffic violations were found to have fake licenses.

Most of the drivers were people under 21--those most likely to use a fake license to buy liquor or gain entry into a nightspot, said Irvine Police Sgt. Scott Cade.

One reason the amnesty is being offered is that authorities do not believe that the majority of drivers with fake licenses intended to use them to commit serious crimes or other types of fraud.

Out of Circulation

Cade also said authorities want to get the licenses out of circulation to prevent their use for serious crimes.

Police are continuing their investigation into the operation, and the district attorney is considering lodging conspiracy charges against those who supplied Schwartz with licenses.

The DMV has indicated that drivers found to have fake licenses will face an administrative hearing to determine if driving privileges should be suspended or revoked.

Drivers still in possession of the fake licenses should send them to the Irvine Police Department in care of Sgt. Leo Jones by June 30.

The address is 1 Civic Center Drive, Irvine, Calif. 92713. The license must be accompanied by the driver’s legal name and date of birth.