Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB47: An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-174 of the Code of Virginia, relating to impersonation of law-enforcement officer while committing additional act; penalties.
Status: Chaptered, April 13, 2026
Impersonation of law-enforcement officer while committing additional act; penalties. Provides that any person who impersonates a law-enforcement officer (i) while committing or attempting to commit aggravated murder, first or second degree murder, abduction, rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, aggravated sexual battery, or sexual battery or (ii) while circumventing, bypassing, or attempting to circumvent or bypass any security measure of any business, commercial building, residence, building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof, or building owned or leased by a locality or any agency thereof is guilty of a Class 6 felony. A second or subsequent offense is punishable as a Class 5 felony.
What the bill says
An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-174 of the Code of Virginia, relating to impersonation of law-enforcement officer while committing additional act; penalties. [S 47] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That § 18.2-174 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as penalties. A. Any person who falsely assumes or exercises the functions, powers, duties, and privileges incident to the office of sheriff, police officer, marshal, or other peace officer, or any local, city, county, state, or federal law-enforcement officer, or who falsely assumes or pretends to be any such officer, is guilty of a Clas.
From the enrolled text, April 13, 2026:
An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-174 of the Code of Virginia, relating to impersonation of law-enforcement officer while committing additional act; penalties. [S 47] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That § 18.2-174 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as penalties. A. Any person who falsely assumes or exercises the functions, powers, duties, and privileges incident to the office of sheriff, police officer, marshal, or other peace officer, or any local, city, county, state, or federal law-enforcement officer, or who falsely assumes or pretends to be any such officer, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense of this subsection is punishable as a Class 6 felony. B. Any person who commits a violation of subsection A while (i) committing or attempting to commit a violation of § 18.2-31, 18.2-32, 18.2-47, 18.2-61, 18.2-67.1, 18.2-67.2, 18.2-67.3, or 18.2-67.4 or (ii) circumventing, bypassing, or attempting to circumvent or bypass any security measure of any business, commercial building, residence, building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof, or building owned or leased by a locality or any agency thereof is guilty of a Class 6 felony. A second or subsequent offense of this subsection is punishable as a Class 5 felony. 2. That the provisions of this act may result in a …