Crimes.

Senators Pérez and Wiener's legislation requires law enforcement officers operating in California to display visible identification showing their agency and name or badge number when performing enforcement duties, while expanding state laws against impersonating public safety personnel. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies maintain public policies detailing identification requirements and allowable exemptions for undercover operations, SWAT activities, and exigent circumstances.

The measure broadens existing impersonation statutes to explicitly include federal law enforcement officers and prohibits impersonation through any means, including online and electronic communications. It establishes misdemeanor penalties for violations and requires uniform vendors to verify purchasers' legitimate law enforcement status before sales. The legislation also restricts bail fugitive recovery agents from engaging in immigration enforcement activities or sharing bail fugitives' personal information for immigration purposes without a court order.

Under the bill, law enforcement agencies must establish written policies on officer identification that can be challenged by the public, oversight bodies, or local authorities. Agencies have 90 days to address any identified deficiencies before facing potential judicial review. The measure includes exemptions for officers wearing protective equipment that prevents identification display and situations involving imminent danger to persons or property, perpetrator escape, or evidence destruction.