Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 268, § 34A (2026)

Furnishing false name, Social Security number or other information establishing identity to law enforcement officer or official; penalty; restitution

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 34A. Whoever knowingly and willfully furnishes a false name, Social Security number, date of birth, home address, mailing address or phone number, or other information as may be requested for the purposes of establishing the person's identity, to a law enforcement officer or law enforcement official following an arrest shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 1 year or by both such fine and imprisonment. Such sentence shall run from and after any sentence imposed as a result of the underlying offense. The court may order that restitution be paid to persons whose identity has been assumed and who have suffered monetary losses as a result of a violation of this section.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2006–2024 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Clark, 846 N.E.2d 765 (Mass. 2006).

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Commonwealth v. Clark, 846 N.E.2d 765 (Mass. 2006). · cites it 8× “He also was convicted of giving a *621 false name to a police officer after arrest, a violation of G. L. c. 268, § 34A. 1 On appeal he challenges the denial of his motion for required findings of not guilty.”

Commonwealth v. Loadholt, 923 N.E.2d 1037 (Mass. 2010). · cites it 5× “269, § 10 (n); and one charge of furnishing a false name to a law enforcement officer, G. L. c. 268, § 34A. He filed a motion to suppress evidence seized from the apartment in which he was arrested, as well as statements made to police while he was in custody.”

Commonwealth v. Fulgiam, 73 N.E.3d 798 (Mass. 2017). · cites it 2× “Moreover, G. L. c. 268, § 34A, states: "[w]hoever knowingly and willfully furnishes a false name or Social Security number to a law enforcement officer or law enforcement official following an arrest shall be punished by a fine or not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in a…”

Commonwealth v. Escobar, 93 N.E.3d 1156 (Mass. 2018). · cites it 3× “The second, G. L. c. 268, § 34A, bars providing a false name **232 to a police officer following an arrest.”

Commonwealth v. Morse, 468 Mass. 360 (Mass. 2014). “It is also a criminal offense to, inter alla, knowingly and wilfully furnish a false name or Social Security number to a law enforcement officer following arrest, G. L. c. 268, § 34A; to fail to report crimes under certain circumstances, G.”

Commonwealth v. Stanley S., a Juv.., 100 Mass. App. Ct. 298 (Mass. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 3× “See G. L. c. 268, § 34A, inserted by St. 1998, c.”

Commonwealth v. Brantley, 90 Mass. App. Ct. 901 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). “” G. L. c. 268, § 34A. A rational jury could have found that the defendant furnished a false name beginning with his capture and extending through the booking procedure.”

Commonwealth v. Gerhartsreiter, 975 N.E.2d 890 (Mass. App. Ct. 2012). “265, § 13A; and furnishing a false name to a law enforcement officer, in violation of G. L. c. 268, § 34A. At trial, the defendant did not dispute that he committed the crime of parental kidnapping, but claimed that he was not criminally responsible.”

Commonwealth v. Soriano-Lara (Mass. App. Ct. 2021). “See G. L. c. 268, § 34A. Even if the uncertainty initially rose to that level, it dissipated somewhat once Farrell returned to his cruiser and learned these additional facts.”

Commonwealth v. Christopher Merced. (Mass. App. Ct. 2023). “1 The defendant was acquitted of one charge of furnishing a false name, G. L. c. 268, § 34A. 1. Troopers' conduct.”

Commonwealth v. Benjamin Ramirez-Lopez. (Mass. App. Ct. 2024). “265, § 13A (a); furnishing false identification information to law enforcement, in violation of G. L. c. 268, § 34A; and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, in violation of G.”

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