Rhode Island General Laws 5-5-13. Uniform and equipment
(a) No individual licensed by, registered by, or subject to the provisions of this chapter shall wear or display any insignia, patch, or pattern that indicates or tends to indicate that he or she is a law enforcement officer of the federal government, a state, or any political subdivision of the state or that contains or includes the word “police” or the equivalent of the word, or is similar in wording to any law enforcement agency in this state. All badges, shields, and any other devices shall not indicate or tend to indicate that it represents that of any law enforcement officer of the federal government, a state, or any other political subdivision of the state. This entire wording must be approved by the local licensing authority.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-5-13
- Local licensing authority: means the town councils of license boards of the several towns, the mayor and city council or license bureau of a city. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-5-2
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Private detective: means a person who is hired for the purpose of conducting investigations involving:
(i) Inquiries into unsolved crimes;
(ii) Clandestine surveillance;
(iii) The search for missing persons; and
(iv) The search for lost or stolen property. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-5-2
- Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
(b) No person, while performing any activities licensed by this chapter, shall have or utilize any vehicle or equipment displaying the words “police,” “law enforcement officer,” or the equivalent of the word(s), or have any sign, shield, marking, accessory, or insignia that indicates that the vehicle is a vehicle of a public law enforcement agency. All wording must indicate private detective or private investigating agency and be approved by the local licensing authority.
(c) No licensee shall, by the use of any letterhead, advertisement, or other printed matter, or in any other manner, represent that he or she is an instrumentality or agency of the federal government or of the state or political subdivision of the state.
History of Section.
P.L. 1987, ch. 479, § 2.