18 U.S.C. § 703
Section 703 · Uniform of friendly nation
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 3 court decisions — leading case Mole v. United States (1963)
Most recently applied in United States v. Swisher (January 2016)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment and consequential amendments — watch for a citation surge after a change. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Whoever, within the jurisdiction of the United States, with intent to deceive or mislead, wears any naval, military, police, or other official uniform, decoration, or regalia of any foreign state, nation, or government with which the United States is at peace, or anything so nearly resembling the same as to be calculated to deceive, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 246 of title 22, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Foreign Relations and Intercourse (July 8, 1918, ch. 138, 40 Stat. 821).
Words “upon conviction” were deleted as surplusage, since punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is secured.
Reference to territories or places subject to jurisdiction of the United States was omitted in view of section 5 of this title defining the term “United States.”
Fine of “$250” was substituted for “$300” as being more consonant with the penalties provided for similar offenses in this chapter.
Words “unless such wearing thereof be authorized by such state, nation, or government” were deleted as unnecessary and undesirable since it is unthinkable that a friendly power would authorize such deceit.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $250”.
Canal Zone
Applicability of section to Canal Zone, see section 14 of this title.