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S.C. Code Ann. § 16-17-720

Impersonating law enforcement officer

Known as the South Carolina Military Service Integrity and Preservation Act

The act spans §§ 16–16 (49 sections).

Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case State v. Cheeseboro (2001)

Most recently applied in In Re Pearman (February 2009)

1962 Code SECTION 16-576; 1969 (56) 157.

It shall be unlawful for any person other than a duly authorized law enforcement officer to represent to any person that he is a law enforcement officer and, acting upon such representation, to arrest or detain any person, search any building or automobile or in any way impersonate a law enforcement officer or act in accordance with the authority commonly given to such officers. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a private citizen from making a citizen's arrest in accordance with the laws of this State.

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year.

Official source: South Carolina Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain South Carolina statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.