If I wear a police or fire uniform, am I breaking any laws?

Yes! New York City has a law (AG 14-107) prohibiting the possession and use of any "uniform, shield buttons, wreaths, numbers or other insignia or emblem in any way resembling that worn by members of the police force." Section 15-120 applies to Fire Department uniforms and badges. Violation of these laws is a misdemeanor.

What about wearing a FedEx or UPS uniform?

As long as you are not attempting to deceive someone into thinking you actually work for the private company whose uniform you are wearing in order to commit some other crime, you are OK.

What is Criminal Impersonation?

Lets look at this in two categories:

A) Impersonation of Public Servants. Merely wearing the uniform of a public servant is not criminal impersonation (although it may violate other laws, as described above). You must also try and convince someone else that you really are a public servant in order to get them to do something. So, wearing a police uniform to a local bar is not criminal impersonation, but tricking someone into giving you their phone number on the pretense that you really are a cop constitutes criminal impersonation. This form of criminal impersonation is a misdemeanor.

B) Impersonation of anyone else. If you impersonate anyone other than a public servant it becomes a crime (Criminal Impersonation) if your intent is to defraud them or gain some benefit for yourself by such deception. So, simply put, wearing a UPS outfit to a uniform night at your local bar is OK, but wearing a UPS uniform and picking up packages and keeping the contents for yourself is a crime.

What about handcuffs and billy clubs?

Mere possession of billy clubs and a host of other "weapons" has long been prohibited by the New York State Penal Law. Possession of handcuffs and leg irons was recently raised from a violation to a misdemeanor in the New York City Administrative Code. Penal law misdemeanors are generally looked upon as more serious than New York City Administrative Code misdemeanors, but neither one is a joke.

Does this mean I can expect to be arrested any time I wear my uniforms at times other than Halloween?

Probably not. For the most part, New York City cops don't go into bars looking for uniform and weapons (billy clubs) violations. But there are some technical violations of the law, as described above. For the most part, if you are discrete in public, you should be OK. But it is a good idea to wear a shirt or jacket to cover your patches and badge out on the street.

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