seamusTX wrote:We would hope, but the default sentence for first-time non-violent offenses seems to be probation (unless they have a mandatory minimum sentence—which mostly is for drug offenses).
Maybe the guy has something else in his background that will result in a prison sentence.
I'm inclined to think this incident may have been one of his earliest exploits, and he either got enough of a thrill pulling over a car or had second thoughts about whatever plan he had.
I knew a guy in college who did something this and was charged with impersonating an officer. He was a decent guy and probably would not have hurt anyone, but he was obsessed with being a first responder. He actually was a volunteer fireman.
- Jim
It's one thing to pretend to be a cop, or say you're a cop while not attempting to exercise any police authority. It's another thing to actually appropriate police authority. I'm generally against mandatory minimum sentences but someone who goes to the effort of rigging his car to fool people into thinking he's a police officer, and then actually continues his masquerade to the point of pulling someone over, should do real time. This is not just an individual crime --it subverts and undermines legitimate authority and increases the danger to police officers and the public.