58-1-118 - Offenses involving improper use or display of military decorations, medals or badges. - Tennessee Statutes

58-1-118. Offenses involving improper use or display of military decorations, medals or badges.

(a)  (1)  It is an offense for a person to wear or display any decoration or medal authorized by congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of those forces, or the ribbon, button or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, with the intent to deceive or misrepresent to another that the person is authorized under regulations made pursuant to law to wear or display any the badge, decoration or medal.

     (2)  It is an offense for a person to falsely represent, whether verbally or in writing, that the person has been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by congress for the armed forces of the United States, any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of those forces, the ribbon, button or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation of such item.

(b)  (1)  It is an offense for a person to wear or display any decoration or medal authorized by the Tennessee military department, or the ribbon, button or rosette of any such decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, with the intent to deceive or misrepresent to another that the person is authorized under regulations made pursuant to law to wear or display any such decoration or medal.

     (2)  It is an offense for a person to falsely represent, whether verbally or in writing, that the person has been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by the Tennessee military department, or the ribbon, button or rosette of any such decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof.

(c)  A violation of subsection (a) or (b) is a Class B misdemeanor, except if a decoration or medal involved is a Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart or any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law, then a violation of subsection (a) or (b) is a Class A misdemeanor.

[Acts 2009, ch. 274, § 1.]