Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, October 23, 2015
(UNDATED) - Every day in Indiana there are hundreds if not thousands of traffic stops that are performed by legitimate law enforcement officials performing their sworn duty.
On a very rare occasion, a person impersonating a police enforcement officer comes to the attention of law enforcement and the public after performing a bogus traffic stop or falsely representing themselves as a public servant.
Indiana code 35-44.1-2-6 states: A person who falsely represents that the person is a public servant, with intent to mislead and induce another person to submit to false official authority or otherwise to act to the other person's detriment in reliance on the false representation, commits impersonation of a public servant, a Class A misdemeanor. However, a person who falsely represents that the person is: a law enforcement officer; or an agent or employee of the department of state revenue, and collects any property from another person; commits a Level 6 felony
Remember, in Indiana, a law enforcement officer cannot make a traffic stop for a traffic infraction in an unmarked vehicle unless they are in full uniform. A law enforcement officer can make a traffic stop for traffic infractions in civilian clothes only if they are operating a fully marked police car.
The following are some tips if you are questionable about the person attempting to stop you:
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