Bill > AB136

This bill modifies Wisconsin state law regarding the crime of impersonating emergency personnel by changing the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class I felony for anyone who impersonates a peace officer, fire fighter, emergency medical services practitioner, or emergency medical responder with the intent to mislead others into believing they are actual emergency personnel. A Class I felony is a serious criminal offense that typically carries potential prison time and significant fines, representing a more severe legal consequence compared to the previous misdemeanor classification. The bill eliminates the phrase "Except as provided in sub. (2)" from the existing statute and directly states the impersonation offense, while maintaining the core requirement that the impersonation must be done with the specific intent to mislead others about the individual's official status. By upgrading the penalty, the legislature appears to be signaling the seriousness of falsely representing oneself as an emergency worker, which could potentially undermine public trust and create dangerous situations.

Justice

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab136