Sec. 53-378. Wearing of armed forces uniform. False representation of award of armed forces decoration, medal, badge, ribbon, button or rosette. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 53-378. Wearing of armed forces uniform. False representation of award of armed forces decoration, medal, badge, ribbon, button or rosette. (a) Any person, other than an officer or enlisted man or woman of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or any reserve component thereof, or of the state, as defined in section 27-2, or a member of a school or college military or naval organization, organized, uniformed and drilling as such, or a resident of any veterans' or soldiers' home, or a police officer, who, at any time, wears the uniform, or any part of the uniform, of any of said armed forces, reserve components or organizations, within the state, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, provided nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting any person having been honorably discharged from any of said armed forces, reserve components or organizations from wearing the person's uniform in accordance with the laws of the United States or the state and the regulations governing any of said armed forces, reserve components or organizations, or any person taking part in any play, opera, theater or other entertainment from wearing such uniform while actually engaged in such entertainment.

      (b) Any person who falsely represents himself or herself, orally or in writing, to have been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by the United States Congress for the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such armed forces, or the ribbon, button or rosette of any such decoration, medal or badge, or any colorable imitation thereof, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

      (1949 Rev., S. 8719; 1951, S, 3318d; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 46; P.A. 07-128, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 07-128 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to increase penalty range from $100 to $500 to $500 to $1,000, substitute "armed forces, reserve components or organizations" for "units or services" and make technical changes, and added Subsec. (b) re false oral or written representation of being awarded any decoration, medal, badge, ribbon, button or rosette of the armed forces.

      See Sec. 53a-130a re impersonation of police officer.