New PC regarding badges on t-shirts?

[bwiese]

IIRC, this law was passed because some legislative aides and certain staff from various agencies (say, some kinda compliance inspector) had non-LE badges and would flash them to get out of traffic tickets or to overassert their nonauthority.

[eltee]

IIRC, it was lawyers and administrators working for the Calif. AG's office. I recall going to some elder abuse training and all of these NON special agents (i.e., administrators, dept. heads, etc.) had badges of the same shape and design as the special agents, and you had to read them from inches away to determine they were not in an enforcement capacity...certainly not peace officers. Rumor was one of these guys tried to badge his/her way out of/in to something and a real cop filed a complaint...I don't know if the NON special agent involved did anything that rose to the level of criminal charges.

It had bugged me seeing these office types, with no LEO training or certs, strutting around with their jackets off or open showing their special agent lookalike badges.

Anyway, that's the genesis of the legislation as I heard it. In my own jurisdiction, EVERYBODY wanted a badge. DA's, Public Defenders, City Attorneys, civilian workers for the PD, grand jury, health/building/code/etc. inspectors, ad infinitum. Everyone I pulled over pulled out a badge fancier than my own.

[Theseus]

This just proves the point that stupid laws are more important that balancing the budget or simply solving REAL problems.

I say we get a ballot initiative that reduces the legislators pay to federal minimum wage if they don't pass a balanced budget on time, and then somewhere in the fat we change the CCW to being will issue.

[G17GUY]

IIRC, this law was passed because some legislative aides and certain staff from various agencies (say, some kinda compliance inspector) had non-LE badges and would flash them to get out of traffic tickets or to overassert their nonauthority.

Whats wrong with that?

But officer, I inspect meat.

[Glock22Fan]

It looks to me as if it all depends upon intent.

If you do not intend to impersonate a peace officer (could be hard to prove) then it looks as if you can wear anything.

[mikehaas]

"...with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a peace officer..." - you don't actually have to do any impersonatin'. Another one of those laws where the government has read your mind and is punishing you for what it thinks you were thinking.

The CA legislature should have to wear "Karnak the Magnificent" turbans while in session.

[megavolt121]

I think the reason this was passed was because of the bozo's at TSA issuing badges and uniforms a while back to imply more authority than a baggage scanner.

[halifax]

It looks to me as if it all depends upon intent.

If you do not intend to impersonate a peace officer (could be hard to prove) then it looks as if you can wear anything.

or of fraudulently
inducing the belief that he or she is a peace officer

Looks like the intent would be in the eyes of the beholder. Kind of like brandishing where if someone just sees you with a firearm that could qualify as the "rude" manner written in to the definition.

[Fate]

Years ago I was pulled over by a CHP "advisor" on the 99 in the central valley.

Essentially she had a case of road rage because I cut into traffic in front of her trying to make my way thru a long line of slower moving vehicles and semis. After 15 minutes of obscene gestures by the "lady" she lit me up with a spotlight from her unmarked Ford Suburban. At first I didn't pull over (didn't look like a real police vehicle and some recent incidents in LA at the time of people impersonating police made me leery), but I was driving my buddy's truck and he started to cave. Then she lit me up with flashing lights and sirens and I pulled over.

Lady came up to my vehicle, acted like it was a traffic stop. "License, registration, proof of insurance please." She wore a polo shirt with an embroidered "badge" on it and proceeded to berate me under color of authority.

Honestly, I wish I was driving my own vehicle as my friend made it clear, he didn't want trouble, didn't want his truck impounded, etc (so STFU! LOL) When I finally asked to see a badge (after she had run my documents and continued to give me hell without actually citing me), she didn't have one and stated her relationship to CHP as "advisor." I was pretty livid at that point, but regrettably held my tongue and doubly regrettably didn't note her info and file a formal complaint.

So yeah, I'm ok with this new law.

[tiki]

So, if I wear a retro concert shirt from the 80's that says "The Police", can I be arrested?

[artherd]

So, if I wear a retro concert shirt from the 80's that says "The Police", can I be arrested?

Only if they can prove intent to impersonate Sting!

[hotwls13]

I don't think the novelty T-shirts are the issue here. I think it has more to do with official Logo'd uniforms or badges. It stems from folks who work for a police department, corrections, probation, sheriff etc. People who work for these agencies typically get issued some form of clothing or ID badges. They do in fact WORK for Probation, and the Probation logo is a Badge itself. So, they get issued a shirt or jacket as a morale booster or because all employees get them (even though they are clerical or admin). The problem arises when there is a crysis and all "First Responders" are REQUIRED to respond. If those clerical folks happen to be out in public, wearing there logo'd shirt or jacket, the public EXPECTS them to respond to the incident or threat. Not to mention the fact that the logo'd shirts also makes the clerical folks a target due to them appearing to be LEO.

just my 2cents.

[shawnyteee]

But I am a female body inspector...... so I can't be committing fraud.

[N6ATF]

The local convenience mart has numerous ball caps on display with logos such as "FBI" and "ATF". I guess they are committing a misdemeanor for selling them.

I actually have the hat in my avatar. I just wish I could afford to add the "N6" to it. I only wear it amongst ham radio operators and while shooting, so all I have to do is say "my callsign is N6" and point up at it. If they don't believe me, I can pull out my wallet license card.

[Ironchef]

Behold my 538d compliant uniform sans intent! (official uniform and not the blue tshirt referenced in the OP) Quite handsome if I do say so myself...chicks dig it..especially my wife!