Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-502
Impersonating police officer
Effective Oct 1, 2012Added by Acts 2003, c. 5, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2004, c. 167, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2012, c. 280, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 281, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.State of Maryland
(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.
Added by Acts 2003, c. 5, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2004, c. 167, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2012, c. 280, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 281, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.