California Penal Code

§ 538d

PEN § 538d Effective Sep 20, 2025Title 13 · Part 1 · Ch. 8

Statute text

(a)Any person other than one who by law is given the authority of a law enforcement officer, who willfully wears, exhibits, or uses the authorized uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card, or writing, of a law enforcement officer, with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a law enforcement officer, or of fraudulently inducing the belief that they are a law enforcement officer, or who willfully and credibly impersonates a law enforcement officer through or on an internet website, by other electronic means, or by any other means, for purposes of defrauding another, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b)(1) Any person, other than the one who by law is given the authority of a law enforcement officer, who willfully wears, exhibits, or uses the badge of a law enforcement officer with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a law enforcement officer, or of fraudulently inducing the belief that they are a law enforcement officer, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

(2)Any person who willfully wears or uses any badge that falsely purports to be authorized for the use of one who by law is given the authority of a law enforcement officer, or which so resembles the authorized badge of a law enforcement officer as would deceive any ordinary reasonable person into believing that it is authorized for the use of one who by law is given the authority of a law enforcement officer, for the purpose of fraudulently impersonating a law enforcement officer, or of fraudulently inducing the belief that they are a law enforcement officer, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 126, Sec. 3. (SB 805) Effective September 20, 2025.