What is considered impersonating an officer?

Answer 1

This may help answer your question. I will refer to California Penal Code Section 538d:

538d. (a) Any person other than one who by law is given the
authority of a peace officer, who willfully wears, exhibits, or uses
the authorized uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate,
card, or writing, of a peace officer, with the intent of
fraudulently impersonating a peace officer, or of fraudulently
inducing the belief that he or she is a peace officer, is guilty of a
misdemeanor.

(b) (1) Any person, other than the one who by law is given the
authority of a peace officer, who willfully wears, exhibits, or uses
the badge of a peace officer with the intent of fraudulently
impersonating a peace officer, or of fraudulently inducing the belief
that he or she is a peace officer, is guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year,
by a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both
that imprisonment and fine.

(2) Any person who willfully wears or uses any badge that falsely
purports to be authorized for the use of one who by law is given the
authority of a peace officer, or which so resembles the authorized
badge of a peace officer as would deceive any ordinary reasonable
person into believing that it is authorized for the use of one who by
law is given the authority of a peace officer, for the purpose of
fraudulently impersonating a peace officer, or of fraudulently
inducing the belief that he or she is a peace officer, is guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to
exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars
($2,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

(c) Any person who willfully wears, exhibits, or uses, or who
willfully makes, sells, loans, gives, or transfers to another, any
badge, insignia, emblem, device, or any label, certificate, card, or
writing, which falsely purports to be authorized for the use of one
who by law is given the authority of a peace officer, or which so
resembles the authorized badge, insignia, emblem, device, label,
certificate, card, or writing of a peace officer as would deceive an
ordinary reasonable person into believing that it is authorized for
the use of one who by law is given the authority of a peace officer,
is guilty of a misdemeanor, except that any person who makes or sells any badge under the circumstances described in this subdivision is
subject to a fine not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

Answer 2

Don't be a putz. If you are doing something that remotely implies your are a cop you probably shouldn't be doing it. You might run across a real criminal and get hurt.
To be more specific:
1. Saying you are a cop
2. Holding out a badge be it real or fake.
3. And again giving anyone the idea you are a cop when in fact you are not.
All of these actions are illegal.

Answer 3

I heard somewhere it is illegal to have so called "neon" lights under your car it is impersonating a emergency vehicle and you will be fined 500-700 dollars with a 1 year penalty in prison.

Answer 4

Wearing or trying to wear some kind of official uniform, or equiping your vehicle with either official markings and or emergency lights, doing anything that might make a person "think" your an officer and your not.

Answer 5

Saying that you are a police officer when you are not.
Using id or a badge to make "a reasonable person" believe that you are a police officer.
Wearing a uniform of a police officer (when it isn't Halloween).

Answer 6

Anything you do, or say to project an image that you are a police officer. You don't even have to flash a badge.

Answer 7

wearing officer insignia, using their rank on the phone, etc. Anything that would cause a prudent person to believe you are an officer.

Answer 8

Dancing around yelling "I am a police officer! I am a police officer!"

Answer 9

When you tell someone you are a police officer and you are not.

Answer 10

trying to arrest someone or dressed up like a cop