New York is the latest state to tighten up its COVID-19 rules as the Omicron variant continues to spread ahead of Christmas.

It began cracking down on the unvaccinated people who pretend to have gotten their shots.

Those caught using a fake vaccination card could face up to a year in jail.

On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul made it a misdemeanor to falsify COVID-19 vaccination cards.

The state also created a new felony of "third-degree computer tampering," for intentionally entering, altering, or destroying digital data related to COVID-19 vaccination status.

The new laws come as most businesses are relying on accurate vaccination status to enforce Hochul's vax-or-mask mandate.

Just this week, a former Westchester Community College assistant teacher was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Mount Vernon resident Sonya Tarter Wilson is accused of using a fake vaccine card to get a full-time job at the college.

Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah commended Hochul saying in part of a statement:"[This] will enable law enforcement to better protect our communities against...those who seek to thwart vaccine requirements."

Her office just launched a COVID-19 Vaccination Fraud Task Force to combat these incidents.

These bills were part of a larger package that also gives schools better access to the statewide immunization database.