Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires vendors of law enforcement uniforms to verify identity of buyers in certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the purchase of law enforcement uniforms and amending Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.2C:28-8 is amended to read as follows:
2C:28-8. Impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer.
a. Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, a person commits a disorderly persons offense if he falsely pretends to hold a position in the public service with purpose to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense.
b. A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if he falsely pretends to hold a position as an officer or member or employee or agent of any organization or association of law enforcement officers with purpose to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense.
c. A vendor of law enforcement uniforms shall verify, prior to sale and delivery, that a purchaser of a uniform identifying a law enforcement agency is an employee or an authorized agent of the agency identified on the uniform. In order to verify the status of the purchaser, the vendor shall require the purchaser to present: (1) a valid government issued photo identification card; and (2) official documentation from the law enforcement agency confirming that the purchaser is an employee or an authorized agent of the law enforcement agency and authorized to purchase uniforms. A vendor who violates this subsection commits a disorderly persons offense.
For the purposes of this subsection, a “law enforcement agency” means a department, division, bureau, commission, board, or other authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof which employs law enforcement officers.
(cf: P.L.2000, c.110, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires vendors of law enforcement uniforms to verify that a person purchasing a uniform identifying a law enforcement agency is an employee or authorized agent of the agency identified on the uniform.
The bill provides that in order to verify the status of the purchaser, the vendor is to require the purchaser to present: (1) a valid government issued photo identification card; and (2) official documentation from the law enforcement agency confirming that the purchaser is an employee or an authorized agent of the law enforcement agency and authorized to purchase uniforms.
A violation of the bill’s provisions is a disorderly persons offense. Disorderly persons offenses are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The provisions of the bill would apply to sales conducted by in-State vendors, as well as sales conducted by out-of-State vendors when the purchases are delivered to customers in New Jersey, including orders placed via the internet or telephone.
It is the sponsor’s intent to ensure that persons who would impersonate law enforcement officers to commit crimes or acts of terrorism will be prevented from purchasing official law enforcement uniforms.