Bill > S06658

This bill establishes a new criminal offense of committing a specified crime while impersonating a police or peace officer. The bill defines impersonation as either pretending to be a law enforcement officer, wearing unauthorized uniforms or badges, displaying unauthorized law enforcement vehicle markings, or using unauthorized emergency lights. The law covers a wide range of specified offenses, including but not limited to assault, robbery, stalking, kidnapping, and various weapon-related crimes. If someone commits one of these specified offenses while impersonating a police or peace officer, they will face enhanced criminal penalties. The severity of the punishment depends on the underlying offense: for violent felonies, the impersonation offense becomes a violent felony; for misdemeanors or lower-level felonies, the offense is elevated one category higher. For class B felonies, the bill mandates specific minimum sentencing requirements, and for class A-I felonies, the minimum sentence is set at twenty years. Additionally, if the specified offense is harassment in the second degree, the impersonation offense becomes a class A misdemeanor. The bill aims to deter individuals from falsely representing themselves as law enforcement officers while committing criminal acts and to provide more stringent punishment for such behavior.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6658