A driver allegedly tried to get away with operating their car while a homemade inspection sticker was displayed, according to officials with New York's Fulton County Sheriff's Office.
Police posted a photo on July 2 showing the fake sticker on the department's Facebook page, citing the state code as it relates to vehicle registration.
According to FindLaw, a legal information website, an individual who displays an unofficial sign, mark or advertisement as if it were official may be guilty of a misdemeanor.
In New York State, all vehicles registered in the state must get a safety inspection each year and when the ownership of the vehicle is transferred.
"A valid inspection sticker must be displayed on your vehicle," the Department of Motor Vehicles said. "Inspections expire the last day of the month punched on the inspection sticker."
Vehicles that are without a valid inspection cannot have their registration renewed, the owner may be fined and the owner may receive a parking ticket.
"Please see the picture below of a very poor attempt to fake an inspection sticker, from a traffic complaint this evening which also resulted in a DWI arrest," read the caption of the post.
The photo that the Fulton County Sheriff's Office shared featured a square piece of white paper.
On top of the paper read, "NYS," while "2022" was scrawled underneath it. The "sticker" also featured scribbles around the border of the paper, which may have been intended to mimic the months of the year.
A postal bar code was pasted above "NYS."
The image left many Facebook users in stitches and prompted them to share their comments.
"Looks so real! Wonder what his license/ID looked like," a Facebook user joked.
"If they punched a date [hole] in it, all would be good," wrote another.
"Come on you have to give them credit for creativity," one person commented.
"Looks legit," a comment read. "Maybe they should consider making counterfeit money."
Some, however, said there could be a serious reason behind having a fake registration sticker. One Facebook user wondered whether the car worked properly and is insured.
Sheriff Richard Giardino told Newsweek that the driver, Susie Ellis, was out driving before she went off the road into a ditch that happened to be right in front of the undersheriff's house.
When the undersheriff spoke to Ellis, he said he noticed signs of drunk driving, including the smell of alcohol.
It was then that he noticed the fake registration sticker.
Giardino said in addition to this fake registration sticker, the department has also come across fake driver's licenses and fake license plates.
This is not the first time police reportedly found something unexpected during traffic stops.
A man was accused of handing police a packet of meth instead of his vehicle registration during a traffic stop.
Two officers reportedly found a live deer inside the back of a car, while a man was found to allegedly have two suitcases with about $3 million inside of them.
Updated 07/11/2022, 3:12 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from Sheriff Richard Giardino.
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