SB372: Law-enforcement vehicle; penalty for impersonating or misrepresenting.


SENATE BILL NO. 372
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 11, 2006
A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-174 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-174.2, relating to impersonating a law-enforcement officer; representation of vehicle as a law-enforcement vehicle; penalties.
Patron-- Saslaw
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 18.2-174 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-174.2 as follows:

§ 18.2-174. Impersonating law-enforcement officer; penalty.

Any person who shall falsely assume or exercise  assumes or exercises the functions, powers, duties and privileges incident to the office of sheriff, police officer, marshal, or other law-enforcement or peace officer, or who shall falsely assume or pretend assumes or pretends to be any such officer, shall be deemed  is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor 6 felony.

§ 18.2-174.2. Unlawful representation of vehicle as a law-enforcement vehicle; penalty.

Any person who without authority operates a motor vehicle that is not a law-enforcement vehicle with the intent to make another believe that the vehicle is an official law-enforcement vehicle and in a manner that would lead another to reasonably believe that the vehicle is a law-enforcement vehicle is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

2.  That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment.  Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is at least $384,896 for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities and is $0 for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.