Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 3-502 - Impersonating police officer; other prohibited acts; penalty(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;(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.