Q: What happens if you lie to a cop here in Washington?
A: If the officer can show that the person willfully hindered, delayed, or obstructed him or her in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties by lying, then that person can be charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer, which is a gross misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 364 days in jail and up to a $5,000 fine. However, if you lie about your name and give the name of another person, you could also be charged with felony Identity Theft. You do not have to actually have another person's identification to be charged with Identity Theft. Using another person's name or social security number is sufficient.
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