Michigan Man Impersonates Cop, Pulls Over Actual Cop in Rochester Hills

Growing up, playing cops and robbers was an integral part of recess in grade school. We never thought anything of it while we were doing it, it was just a fun thing to do with friends. But, for most of us, that imaginative part of us disappeared at some point without us even realizing it.

But did it for everyone?

Impersonating a Police Officer 

According to Legal Match, impersonating a police officer is determined by the following:

- Dressing in a police uniform

- Using red and blue flashing lights on your vehicle. Because in many states, using equipment that is used by law enforcement is considered to be a crime.

- Using or flashing a counterfeit, fake, or stolen police badge.

- "Simply leading someone to believe you are an officer of the law." However that may be proven, as it is a bit vague.

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Penalties for Impersonating a Police Officer 

According to the Michigan Penal Code, subsection (1) of 750.217c states: "A person shall not impersonate, falsely represent, or falsely act as a public officer or public employee and prepare, issue, serve, execute, or otherwise act to further the operation of any legal process or unauthorized process that affects or purports to affect persons or property." The following penalties are in place:

Subsection 2: A person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more that 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

Subsection 3: A person who violates subsection (1) after a prior conviction for violating subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 3 years, or a fine of not more than $1,500, or both.