By Shanna Campbell · Updated August 29, 2026 · Statutes verified August 29, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Maryland has one of the broadest police badge statutes in the country. Section 3-502 of the Public Safety Article does three separate things: it prohibits impersonating a police officer, special police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable with fraudulent design; it prohibits having, using, wearing, or displaying a badge, shield, button, shoulder patch, or other insignia adopted by the Department of State Police without appropriate authority; and it prohibits possessing an imitation of those articles for the purpose of deception. Where many states punish only the act of impersonation, Maryland reaches the articles themselves — which is why the state’s rules matter to anyone who buys, sells, collects, or manufactures badges.
What Maryland Law Actually Prohibits
| Provision | Conduct covered | Key limit |
|---|---|---|
| §3-502(b) | Falsely representing yourself as a police officer, special police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable | Requires “fraudulent design on person or property” — criminal intent, not mere words |
| §3-502(c) | Having, using, wearing, or displaying a uniform, shield, button, ornament, badge, identification, or shoulder patch adopted by the Department of State Police | Applies without any deception requirement; authorization under (e) is the defense |
| §3-502(d) | Possessing a simulation or imitation of those articles | Only “for the purpose of deception” |
Which Agencies Count as “Police” Under Maryland Law
Section 3-502(a) defines “police officer” with a specific list that goes well beyond Maryland agencies: state and municipal police forces of any state, the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division, the United States Park Police, the WMATA Metro Transit Police, the FBI, the DEA, and any federal division whose primary duties are investigating, apprehending, or detaining people suspected or convicted of federal crimes. That definition matters in the Washington suburbs, where WMATA and federal uniformed agencies are part of daily life — a fake Metro Transit Police badge is treated the same as a fake Baltimore Police badge.
The Authorization Exception: Who May Wear the Articles
Subsection (e) is the working half of the statute for departments and manufacturers. A person may have, use, wear, or display the covered articles with the appropriate authority of the issuing agency — the list of authorizing bodies mirrors the definition list, down to federal divisions. In production terms, that is why badge orders for Maryland agencies run through the agency itself or its authorized purchaser. Agencies ordering law enforcement credential badges for authorized departments are exercising exactly the authority subsection (e) contemplates.
Maryland is also one of the states where the “special police officer” designation appears by name in the impersonation clause. Special police commissions are common in Maryland hospitals, campuses, and private facilities, and their badges must be distinct from State Police articles while still reading as legitimate authority — the design conventions behind special police and security officer badge designs exist largely to keep that line bright.
What Maryland Does Not Prohibit
The possession clause in (c) is broad but agency-specific: it covers articles adopted by the Department of State Police and worn by police officers, sheriffs, deputies, and constables. It does not make badge collecting unlawful in general, and the imitation clause in (d) requires a purpose of deception. A framed badge honoring a relative’s service, a clearly commemorative piece, or a historical collection displayed at home is a different thing in law from a convincing replica carried in a wallet. Families thinking about tribute pieces can see how other households handle this in our guide to family member badges.
How Maryland Compares
Maryland’s article-possession approach is stricter than the pure-impersonation model used in states like Missouri, but it is not the newest idea in the region — Massachusetts modernized its impersonation statute in late 2025, raising penalties and adding federal officers, a change we cover in the Massachusetts badge requirements guide. Maryland’s enforcement pattern is also visibly active: state troopers have made multiple impersonation arrests in recent years involving fake badges, fake identification, and police-style gear during traffic stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to own a police badge in Maryland?
Owning badges generally is not prohibited. What §3-502 restricts is possessing or displaying articles adopted by the Department of State Police without authority, possessing imitations for deception, and impersonating an officer with fraudulent intent.
Does Maryland’s law cover federal and transit police badges?
Yes. The statute’s definition of police officer expressly includes the Secret Service Uniformed Division, Park Police, WMATA Metro Transit Police, FBI, DEA, and similar federal divisions.
What makes impersonation criminal in Maryland?
Fraudulent design. Merely saying you are an officer, without intent to defraud a person or obtain property or advantage, generally does not satisfy the statute — prosecutors must show the false claim was a show of authority used to gain something.
Can a security company use police-style badges in Maryland?
Security and special police badges must not copy State Police-adopted articles and should be clearly distinct from sworn-officer insignia. The special police officer designation is named in the impersonation clause, so design separation is a legal safeguard, not just a convention.
How do Maryland departments authorize badge orders?
Through the agency itself or a purchaser acting with its authority, consistent with subsection (e)’s authorization framework. Manufacturers keep that authorization with the order record.
Sources
Md. Code, Public Safety §3-502 (impersonating police officer; other prohibited acts; penalty), via the Maryland General Assembly statute text and Justia’s 2024 code edition. Statutes verified August 29, 2026.