Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Law Enforcement Impersonation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee broadens impersonation penalty, adds federal and state officers to protections
Summary
Senate Bill 19-36 was amended to expand the protected classes (inserting 'federal law enforcement agent or officer' and 'state trooper') and to broaden seizure authority; both amendments were adopted and the bill passed unanimously in committee (7-0).
Senator Hall introduced Senate Bill 19-36 to elevate impersonating a law-enforcement officer from a misdemeanor to a felony and expand seizure authority for vehicles or equipment used in the offense. He said the change was intended to deter impersonation and better protect the public, adding, “it scares me.”
The committee adopted two friendly amendments. Clerk-read text from Senator Brooks’ amendment inserted the words “federal law enforcement agent or officer” into the protected class; Senator Hall offered an amendment adding “state trooper.” Both amendments were accepted without recorded opposition.
During a brief debate Senators praised the measure’s goal of ensuring citizens can rely on the authenticity of law enforcement interactions. There were no recorded dissents. The committee called the roll and recorded seven ayes and zero nays, and the chair declared the bill passed out of committee.
The committee’s action makes no immediate change to existing statutes until the bill proceeds through the Senate; amendments adopted in committee were incorporated into the committee version of the text for subsequent consideration.
