Photo ID Required to Buy Police Uniforms
In California, if you want to buy a police uniform, you’ll need to prove you’re a policeman:
Assembly Bill 1448 by Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine for vendors who do not verify the identification of those purchasing law enforcement uniforms. Previous law made it illegal to impersonate police but did not require an ID check at the point of purchase. The measure takes effect Jan. 1.
Niello said AB 1448 is necessary because many law enforcement agencies require officers to purchase uniforms through outside retailers rather than their own departments.
I’ve written a lot about the problem of authenticating uniforms. This isn’t going to solve that problem. But it’s probably a good idea all the same.
Carlo Graziani • October 4, 2007 1:42 PM
In the Boston version of the law, vendors ask potential purchasers of uniforms to identify a picture of a jukebox, or of an espresso maker. If the customer says “it’s a bomb”, they’ve authenticated themselves as cops, and may buy the uniform.