{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-3-502","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Public Safety § 3–502","heading":"","body":"(a) In this section, “police officer” means a member of:\n(1) a police force of this State or another state;\n(2) a police force of a county or municipal corporation of this State or another state;\n(3) the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division;\n(4) the United States Park Police;\n(5) the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro Transit Police;\n(6) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;\n(7) the Drug Enforcement Administration; or\n(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.\n(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.\n(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.\n(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.\n(e) A person may have, use, wear, or display an article described in subsection (c) of this section with the appropriate authority of:\n(1) the Secretary of State Police;\n(2) a police force of another state;\n(3) the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City;\n(4) the chief of police of a county or municipal corporation of this State or another state;\n(5) a sheriff or deputy sheriff;\n(6) a constable;\n(7) the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division;\n(8) the United States Park Police;\n(9) the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro Transit Police;\n(10) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;\n(11) the Drug Enforcement Administration; or\n(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.\n(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.","path":["Article - Public Safety"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gps\u0026section=3-502","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T20:00:18Z","sha256":"bda673b7c2b3e8fb6efe7bc36dc2197eae42dd27459d4ddcbe8aa991b908e2d0","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-3-501.1","next":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-3-503"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}