The House Ways & Means Committee just passed HF 3404 proposing an amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.475 to significantly expand and strengthen penalties for impersonating a peace officer.
HF 3404 elevates the base offense to a felony when an individual falsely presents themselves as a peace officer with an intent to mislead. It further creates enhanced penalties where the impersonation is used to gain access to restricted spaces, direct others without legal authority, or imitate law enforcement vehicles through lights, sirens, or official markings. Additional felony liability attaches when the offense is committed while possessing a firearm or within five years of a prior impersonating a peace officer conviction. Notably, the law also increases the severity of any underlying offense committed while impersonating a peace officer, raising the penalty by one offense level. Finally, individuals presenting as peace officers are now required to provide identifying information, reinforcing transparency and accountability.
This bill enhancing these penalties, if passed, would not go into effect until August 1, 2026.