WashingtonWashington law makes falsely appearing as a peace officer a crime
Washington law makes it a gross misdemeanor to claim or appear to be a peace officer and act to seem official when a reasonable person would believe it.
What it does
A person commits a gross misdemeanor by claiming or appearing to be a peace officer and acting to seem official, when a reasonable person would believe it.
Certain current and retired officers, and people honoring a deceased officer, may possess insignia items within agency policy limits.
The law protects constitutionally protected art and other public-interest depictions of law enforcement from being prohibited by this section.
Argument forThe offense could help protect people from someone who deliberately uses signs of police authority to make others believe they are dealing with an officer.
Argument againstSomeone could face a gross misdemeanor for trying to seem official if a reasonable person believes they are a peace officer, even without an outright claim.
More detail
A person commits a gross misdemeanor by claiming or appearing to be a peace officer and acting to seem official. The term covers several kinds of Washington peace officers and federal peace officers. A reasonable person must believe the person is a peace officer. The conduct must not amount to first-degree criminal impersonation. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
The law says this section does not prohibit certain people from possessing items with a law enforcement agency's insignia. These provisions cover agency-issued insignia items, items received to honor a deceased peace officer, and items kept by retired officers. An officer may use as a defense an agency-issued item if they were commissioned when it was issued and agency policy still allows that use. Agency policy must allow a person to possess an item received to honor a deceased officer. A retired officer is presumed allowed to keep an item unless agency policy forbids it or the agency asks for it back. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
The law says this section does not prohibit protected depictions of law enforcement. This protection applies to depictions of law enforcement. It covers cultural, historical, political, religious, educational, newsworthy, or other public-interest depictions, including constitutionally protected art, commentary, satire, and parody. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 19Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 19Chapter 114, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 19Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11President signed.Major
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 9Passed final passage; yeas, 66; nays, 29; absent, 0; excused, 3.Passed House
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#9). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#18). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Feb 27Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 24Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 23Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 23LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 19Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 13First reading, referred to Law & Justice.Minor
- Feb 11Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#1). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 11Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 111st substitute bill substituted (CS 26).Major
- Feb 6Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Jan 27Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 22Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Jan 22CS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 22Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 13Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Community Safety.Minor
- 2025
- Dec 17Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety