Bill > SB132

This bill increases the criminal penalty for impersonating emergency personnel from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class I felony. Specifically, the bill modifies existing Wisconsin statute 946.70 to change the punishment 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 actually that type of emergency personnel. A Class A misdemeanor typically involves potential jail time up to one year, while a Class I felony can result in more serious consequences, potentially including longer imprisonment. The bill removes the phrase "Except as provided in sub. (2)" from the existing law and eliminates the specific reference to a Class A misdemeanor penalty, instead establishing a blanket Class I felony classification for such impersonations under Section 1 of the bill. This change suggests the legislature views impersonating emergency personnel as a more serious offense that warrants stricter criminal penalties, likely to protect public safety and maintain the integrity of emergency response systems.