If my mountain bike has police decals on it, am I impersonating an officer?

Question

I purchased everything I need, and built a mountain bike. I had the frame powder coated white and with "POLICE" decals purchased on ebay, decorated it accordingly. At first glance it might appear I stole it from an officer of the law. A closer look would make it obvious I didn't. Just wondering if this is not legal, even if I keep it away from air shows and other places the bicycle cops patrol.

Answer 1

umm yes that's very illegal, why would you think it's okay?

don't do it

in my state it's a class B misdemeanor

punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine up to $2000

Answer 2

Show the bike to a police officer and ask him.

Answer 3

Contrary to what some have said it IS illegal in many places simply to have the word "police" (or othere LE terms) on your vehilce, bike, person, etc in a manner that decieves the public. Having "Elect ______ for sherriff" would generaly not be a problem. Those who say "free speech" are incorrect- by having such wording on something those persons are saying "I am a LEO." People often fail to realise that you do not have to say anything- simply wearing a "police" like uniform and acting like a LEO is enough. As long as the general public is led believe that a person is a real LEO, when they are in fact not, the burden of proof for impersonation is often met.

JoelKatz is over simplifing the Florida State courts ruling. The ruling related to the wording of the statute being "overly broad & vague", not that the acts were "legal" per se. An example of the overly broad aspect is that the Florida statute, as writen, would have included the election shirt noted above. They did not rule that the purpose/intent of the law was wrong, only that the way the specific statute was worded was incorrect. Check out this info-

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/crimpro...

"After watching a television show last night where a male stripper, dressed up as a cop, was shot at when he knocked on a hotel room door that he thought belonged to a paying client, but actually belonged to drug dealers, I was wondering if states can outlaw civilians wearing police insignia.  Little did I know that the Florida Supreme Court had just decided the issue." Even if "legal", is it smart?

http://www.flsenate.gov/data/Publication...

"In Sult v. State, 906 So.2d 1013 (Fla.2005), the Florida

Supreme Court held that s. 843.085, F.S. (2001) is

unconstitutional as overbroad and vague, and also

violates the right to substantive due process.

...The Court’s analysis appears to suggest that the

adoption of a specific intent requirement may address

the constitutional problems."

Legal or not, it's a good way to get yourself hurt or worse.

- David

Answer 4

No.  There is a guy in my town who sells equipment for police cars.  He has a demostrator car, which he drives around and demonstrates to police departments.  The state has tried to press impersonating an officer type charges, but they don't stick because he's not wearing a police uniform, and he does not try to pass himself off as a police officer.  Now if you tried to pull someone over, or write someone a ticket, you could get into trouble.

I'll bet the bike is a used police bike.

Answer 5

It is not impersonating an officer, however some States (such as Florida) do have laws that specifically make it illegal to replicate the decals and logos used by their police. I don't know of any State that has a law against the use of generic police decals, but you may wish to research the law in your State just to be sure.

Florida attempted to prosecute a man riding a bicycle with a black shirt that said "POLICE" in bold white lettering on the back. The State Supreme Court found the law could not be used against the mere use of the word "POLICE".

Answer 6

I wouldn't think so.

I've seen old police cars being driven with the logos still on them and even that's legit.

I doubt anyone will care that it's on a bike, unless you like get a uniform or something and act like you're a cop.

Answer 7

You're not a police impersonator, but you are a "whacker".

Seriously, you remind me of the volunteer firefighters I used to know who only got into the job just because of the pretty blue lightbars they got to mount on their POS cars and drive around with. Get a life! Riding around on a bicycle with police decals doesn't give you any real power.