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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174 — Impersonating law-enforcement officer; penalties

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 2: Impersonation, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. Any person who falsely assumes or exercises the functions, powers, duties, and privileges incident to the office of sheriff, police officer, marshal, or other peace officer, or any local, city, county, state, or federal law-enforcement officer, or who, for the purpose of deceiving another, falsely assumes or pretends to be any such officer, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense of this subsection is punishable as a Class 6 felony. B. Any person who commits a violation of subsection A while such person is wearing a facial covering is guilty of a Class 5 felony. A second or subsequent offense of this subsection is punishable as a Class 4 felony. For the purposes of this subsection, "facial covering" means any opaque mask, garment, headgear, or other item or device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered to conceal the identity of the wearer, including a balaclava, tactical mask, gator, ski mask, or other similar face-shielding item or device. C. Any person who commits a violation of subsection A while (i) committing or attempting to commit a violation of § 18.2-31 , 18.2-32 , 18.2-47 , 18.2-61 , 18.2-67.1 , 18.2-67.2 , 18.2-67.3 , or 18.2-67.4 or (ii) circumventing, bypassing, or attempting to circumvent or bypass any security measure of any business, commercial building, residence, building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof, or building owned or leased by a locality or any agency thereof is guilty of a Class 6 felony. A second or subsequent offense of this subsection is punishable as a Class 5 felony.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is impersonating law-enforcement officer a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: impersonating law-enforcement officer ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 4 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174.

Impersonating law-enforcement officer — first offense: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174A) · Impersonating law-enforcement officer — second or subsequent offense: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174A) · Impersonating law-enforcement officer while wearing facial covering — first offense: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174B) · Impersonating law-enforcement officer while wearing facial covering — second or subsequent offense: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174B) · Impersonating law-enforcement officer during specified crime or security bypass — first offense: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174C) · Impersonating law-enforcement officer during specified crime or security bypass — second or subsequent offense: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174C)

Which Virginia statute covers impersonating law-enforcement officer?

Impersonating law-enforcement officer is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-174 (Impersonating law-enforcement officer; penalties).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.