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Maryland Code, Public Safety § 3-502

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(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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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Public Safety § 3-502 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/public-safety/md-code-public-safety-sect-3-502/

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