Wearing an unauthorized uniform or badge to impersonate an officer is classified as what?

Wearing an unauthorized uniform or badge to impersonate an officer is classified as a misdemeanor under California law. Misdemeanors are offenses that are more serious than infractions but less severe than felonies. The act of impersonating a law enforcement officer can undermine public trust in law enforcement and poses potential dangers; thus, it is treated with legal seriousness.

In California, particularly, the law penalizes such behavior to protect the integrity of law enforcement and ensure public safety. This classification allows law enforcement to take appropriate action against individuals who engage in such deceptive practices without significantly burdening the legal system with heavier felony charges, which could entail severe consequences.

Moving to other possible classifications such as infraction, felony, or civil offense: infractions typically involve minor violations that do not carry the risk of jail time, while felonies involve severe crimes that can result in significant imprisonment. Civil offenses, on the other hand, pertain to disputes between private parties and do not involve the criminal justice system in the same manner. Therefore, the nature of impersonating an officer aligns distinctly with the characteristics of a misdemeanor.