Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§701 Official Badges, Identification Cards, Other Insignia
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 33 — EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA, AND NAMES › § 701
Summary
Making, selling, or possessing official U.S. department badges, ID cards, or close copies — including photos, prints, or engravings that look like them — is illegal unless allowed by official rules. Violators can be fined, jailed for up to six months, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §701
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever manufactures, sells, or possesses any badge, identification card, or other insignia, of the design prescribed by the head of any department or agency of the United States for use by any officer or employee thereof, or any colorable imitation thereof, or photographs, prints, or in any other manner makes or executes any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the likeness of any such badge, identification card, or other insignia, or any colorable imitation thereof, except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, 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., §§ 76a, 76b (
June 29, 1932, ch. 306, §§ 1, 2, 47 Stat. 342;
May 22, 1939, ch. 141, 53 Stat. 752). Sections were consolidated. The term “department or agency” was substituted for “department or independent office” in two places to embrace all properly constituted agencies as defined in section 6 of this title and to eliminate any possible ambiguity as to scope of section. Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $250”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 701
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102