A02502 Summary:

BILL NO    A02502 

SAME AS    Same as S 37

SPONSOR    Pretlow (MS)

COSPNSR    

MLTSPNSR   Fields

Amd SS190.25 & 190.26, Pen L

Increases the penalties for criminal impersonation in the first degree from a
class E felony to a class D felony; increases the penalty for criminal
impersonation in the second degree from a class A misdemeanor to a class E
felony.

A02502 Actions:

BILL NO    A02502 

01/16/2009 referred to codes
01/06/2010 referred to codes

A02502 Votes:

A02502 Memo:

 BILL NUMBER:  A2502

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the penal law, in relation to
increasing the penalties for criminal impersonation in the first and
second degrees

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL : Relates to increasing the penalties
for criminal impersonation in the first and second degrees.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS : This bill amends section 190.25 of
the penal law by adding section (3) which will increase the penalties
for criminal impersonation in the first and second degrees.

 JUSTIFICATION : Criminal impersonation is a heinous crime in which an
individual poses as a law enforcement officer, a physician, or any
such person of authority in order to gain the trust and acquiescence
of the victim. Recent incidents in Westchester County involving
robbery and sexual assault evidence the seriousness and frequency of
this crime. Thus, in the interest of granting the authorities greater
prosecutorial power and that of enhancing overall public safety, this
bill raises the penalties for offenders convicted of criminal
impersonation in the first and second degrees.

Under the current legislation it is illegal for an unauthorized person
to wear a public servant uniform or wear or display an official badge
with the intent to induce another person to submit to or act in
reliance upon such pretended authority. This legislation provides
additional criminal safeguards against individuals who impersonate
public servants.

Psychologists have shown that people often accept the authority of a
person in uniform without question, which obviously presents a problem
if the person wearing a uniform is doing so fraudulently. The purpose
of this bill is to lessen the chance of criminal impersonation and
thus ensure the safety of the people of New York.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : New bill in 2004.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

 EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect on the first of November
following the date on which it shall have become law.