Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SCOTT RUDDER
District 8 (Burlington)
Assemblyman PATRICK DELANY
District 8 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes crime of using blue lights or other insignia on vehicle to impersonate law enforcement authority.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of emergency warning lights or other insignia on a motor vehicle to impersonate law enforcement authority and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. A person commits a crime if, with the intent to impersonate a law-enforcement officer, he operates any vehicle, which by its coloration, insignia, lettering, blue or red light resembles a vehicle used, owned, possessed, or operated by any law-enforcement agency, with purpose to induce a reasonable person to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense. Violation of this act shall be a crime of the fourth degree.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would make it a crime to impersonate a law enforcement officer by use of a vehicle, which is modified with blue or red lights or other insignia to resemble a police vehicle. The bill would make it illegal to use such impersonation with the purpose of inducing a reasonable person to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense. Violation of this bill is a crime of the fourth degree. A fourth degree crime is punishable by a prison term of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.