Impersonating police officer; other prohibited acts; penalty

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    (a)    In this section, “police officer” means a member of:

        (1)    a police force of this State or another state;

        (2)    a police force of a county or municipal corporation of this State or another state;

        (3)    the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division;

        (4)    the United States Park Police;

        (5)    the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro Transit Police;

        (6)    the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

        (7)    the Drug Enforcement Administration; or

        (8)    a division of a federal agency the primary duties of which are the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of federal crimes.

    (b)    A person may not, with fraudulent design on person or property, falsely represent that the person is a police officer, special police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable.

    (c)    Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a person may not have, use, wear, or display a uniform, shield, button, ornament, badge, identification, or shoulder patch adopted by the Department of State Police to be worn by its members, insignia, or emblem of office, as is worn by a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable.

    (d)    A person may not, for the purpose of deception, have a simulation or imitation of an article described in subsection (c) of this section as is worn by a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable.

    (e)    A person may have, use, wear, or display an article described in subsection (c) of this section with the appropriate authority of:

        (1)    the Secretary of State Police;

        (2)    a police force of another state;

        (3)    the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City;

        (4)    the chief of police of a county or municipal corporation of this State or another state;

        (5)    a sheriff or deputy sheriff;

        (6)    a constable;

        (7)    the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division;

        (8)    the United States Park Police;

        (9)    the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro Transit Police;

        (10)    the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

        (11)    the Drug Enforcement Administration; or

        (12)    a division of a federal agency the primary duties of which are the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of federal crimes.

    (f)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $2,000 or both.


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