Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§705 Badge or medal of veterans’ organizations

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 33— - EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA, AND NAMES › § 705

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Do not knowingly make, copy, sell, or buy for resale any badge, medal, emblem, or close imitation of one that belongs to a veterans’ organization created by Congress or an auxiliary that group recognizes. Do not print or distribute reproductions of those insignia in publications unless the organization has given permission; violators can be fined under federal law, jailed for up to six months, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §705

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or on or appended to, any article of merchandise manufactured or sold, any badge, medal, emblem, or other insignia or any colorable imitation thereof, of any veterans’ organization incorporated by enactment of Congress, or of any organization formally recognized by any such veterans’ organization as an auxiliary of such veterans’ organization, or knowingly prints, lithographs, engraves or otherwise reproduces on any poster, circular, periodical, magazine, newspaper, or other publication, or circulates or distributes any such printed matter bearing a reproduction of such badge, medal, emblem, or other insignia or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under rules and regulations prescribed by any such organization, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 76e (June 25, 1940, ch. 426, 54 Stat. 571). Words beginning the section are from the punishment provision of last sentence which was itself rewritten without surplusage. Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $250”. 1950—Act Aug. 4, 1950, brought within the protection of this section emblems, badges, or insignia of auxiliary organizations of veteran’s organizations incorporated by an act of Congress.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 705

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73