An act relating to impersonating a law enforcement officer

This bill (H.798) amends Vermont law to clarify that impersonating any law enforcement officer - including local, state, or federal officers - is illegal, and specifically prohibits officers from impersonating officers from other agencies. It expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" to include all officers acting on behalf of local, state, or federal agencies, and sets penalties: up to six months in jail or a $500 fine for a first offense, and up to two years or $1,000 for repeat offenses. The law aims to protect public trust in law enforcement by ensuring impersonation is clearly punishable regardless of the officer's agency. This directly affects anyone who falsely presents themselves as a law enforcement officer, including other officers impersonating colleagues from different agencies.