FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1689

                     Synopsis as Enacted

                         C 457 L 93

Brief Description:  Making it a misdemeanor to impersonate a law enforcement officer.

By Representatives Chappell, Springer, Appelwick, Riley, Campbell, Brough, Basich, J. Kohl and Johanson.

House Committee on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Background:  A person can commit the crime of criminal impersonation in either of two ways.  First, the crime may be committed by assuming a false identity and acting with an unlawful purpose.  Second, the crime may be committed by pretending to be a representative of another person and acting with an unlawful purpose.  The crime is a gross misdemeanor.

Summary:  The crime of criminal impersonation is expanded.  The existing crime is designated first-degree criminal impersonation.

A new crime of second-degree criminal impersonation is created.  The crime is committed by claiming to be, or creating the impression that one is, a law enforcement officer and, under circumstances not amounting to the first-degree crime, acting with the intent to convey the impression that one is acting in an official capacity.  The impression created must be one that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the defendant is a law enforcement officer.

The second-degree crime is a misdemeanor.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  98 0

Senate 44 0 (Senate amended)

House  97 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1993