Originally Posted by
BehindBlueI's
Impersonation typically requires more than playing dress-up. The impersonator must use his false authority in some way as well. A quick Google of NY's law shows it pretty much mirrors our own:
S 190.26 Criminal impersonation in the first degree.
A person is guilty of criminal impersonation in the first degree when
he:
1. Pretends to be a police officer or a federal law enforcement
officer as enumerated in section 2.15 of the criminal procedure law, or
wears or displays without authority, any uniform, badge or other
insignia or facsimile thereof, by which such police officer or federal
law enforcement officer is lawfully distinguished or expresses by his or
her words or actions that he or she is acting with the approval or
authority of any police department or acting as a federal law
enforcement officer with the approval of any agency that employs federal
law enforcement officers as enumerated in section 2.15 of the criminal
procedure law; and
2. So acts with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended
official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon said pretense
and in the course of such pretense commits or attempts to commit a
felony;
Second degree:
3. (a) Pretends to be a public servant, or wears or displays without
authority any uniform, badge, insignia or facsimile thereof by which
such public servant is lawfully distinguished, or falsely expresses by
his words or actions that he is a public servant or is acting with
approval or authority of a public agency or department; and (b) so acts
with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended official
authority, to solicit funds or to otherwise cause another to act in
reliance upon that pretense.
Note both have an "and" so both prongs must be met.
Reply With Quote