We’ve all seen them before. You’re driving down the highway, probably speeding a little bit. Suddenly, in your rear view mirror, you see a black and white car.

Yikes! It’s a police car. You hit your breaks, slowing down to exactly 65 mph. You keep an eye on the car and drive on your best behavior until the car passes you. Wait. It’s not a cop car! It’s just some dinky jalopy with a mismatched paint job.

After breathing a sigh of relief, you think, “Is that even legal? Can you paint your car to look like a cop car?”

Impersonating a Police Officer

The laws regarding impersonating a cop vary from state to state:

  • Alabama: Alabama statue defines impersonating an officer as pretending to be a public servant and doing any act in that capacity.
  • Indiana: Indiana statute doesn’t require a person to act as a police officer to be guilty of impersonating a public servant. You need only intend to mislead another person to believe that you are a police officer and submit to your authority.
  • Delaware: Delaware requires no intent to deceive or any action. It is illegal to merely pretend to be a police officer.
  • Texas: In Texas, you can even be guilty of impersonating a security officer.

But, that black and white car in your rear view mirror probably isn’t going to be cited for impersonating a police officer unless it tries to pull you over.

California Vehicle Code

Go ahead paint your car black and white then! Not so fast. 

If you do get cited for impersonating a police officer or violating the vehicle code, an experienced criminal defense attorney will be able to help interpret your state’s statute and assess your options.

Related Resources:

  • Browse Criminal Defense Lawyers by Location (FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory)
  • Is a Fake Cop Murdering Miss. Motorists? (FindLaw’s Blotter)
  • Fake Cop Peed In Kid’s Hat, Hit On Women (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
  • Can Your Car’s Paint Job Get You Pulled Over? (FindLaw’s Blotter)

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Civil Rights

Block on Trump’s Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court

Criminal

Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records

Politicians Can’t Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules