Req. No. 495 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) SENATE BILL 1053 By: Montgomery AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to fraud; amending 21 O.S . 2021, Section 1533, which relates to fa lse personation of public officers; prohibiting certain acts to wrongfully transfer real property; creating felony offense; establishing puni shment; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 20 21, Section 1533, is amended to read as follows: Section 1533. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, every person who falsely personates any public officer, civil or military, any firefig hter, any law enforcement officer, any emergency medical technician or other emergency medical care provider, or any private individual having special au thority by law to perform any act affecting the rights or interests of another, or who assumes, without authority, any uniform or badge by which such officers or persons are usually distinguished, and in such assumed character does any act whereby another person is injured, defrauded, harassed, vexed or annoyed, upon conviction, is guilty of a Req. No. 495 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six (6) months, or by a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or by both such f ine and imprisonment. B. Every person who falsely personates any public officer or any law enforcement officer in connection with or relating to any sham legal process shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the custod y of the Department of Corrections for not more than two (2) years, or a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment. C. Every person who falsely asserts authority of law not provided for by federal or state la w in connection with any sham legal process shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department o f Corrections for not more than two (2) years, or a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) , or both such fine and imprisonment. D. Every person who, while acting falsely in asserting authority of law, attempts to intimidate or hinder a publi c official or law enforcement officer in the discharge of official duties by means of threats, harassmen t, physical abuse, or use of sham legal process shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishabl e by imprisonment in the custody of the Departmen t of Corrections for not Req. No. 495 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 more than two (2) years, or a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment. E. Any person who, without authority under federal or state law, acts as a supreme court justice, a district c ourt judge, an associate district judge, a special judge, a magistrate, a clerk of the court or deputy, a notary public, a juror or other official holding authority to determine a controversy or adjudicate t he rights or interests of others, or signs a docu ment in such capacity, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the c ustody of the Department of Corrections for not more than two (2) years, or a fine not exceeding Five T housand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such fine an d imprisonment. F. Any person who, without authority under federal or state law, acts as a supreme cour t justice, a district c ourt judge, an associate district ju dge, a special judge, a magistrate, a clerk of the court or deputy, a notary public, a juro r, or other official holding authority signs a document in such capacity to wrongfully transfer real proper ty which is the personal residence of another , shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishabl e by imprisonment in the custody of the Departme nt of Corrections for not more than ten (10) years, or a fine not exceeding Fi fty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both such fine an d imprisonment. G. Every person who uses any motor vehicle or motor -driven cycle usually distinguished as a law enforcement vehicle or equips Req. No. 495 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 any motor vehicle or motor -driven cycle with any spot lamps, audible sirens, or flashing lights, in violation of Section 12-217, 12-218 or 12-227 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or i n any other manner uses any motor vehicle or motor -driven cycle: 1. Which, by markings that conform to or imitate the markings required or authorized in subsection B of Section 151 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes and used by the Oklahoma Highway Patr ol Division of the Department of Public Safety, co nveys to any person the impression or appearance that it is a vehicle of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol shall, upon conviction, be gui lty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both fine and imprisonment; provided, nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the use of such a vehicle for exhibitions, club activities, parades, and ot her functions of public interest and which is not used on the public roads, streets, and highways for regular transportation; or 2. For the purpose of f alsely personating a law enf orcement officer and who in such assumed character commits any act whereby another person is injured, defrauded, harassed, ve xed or annoyed shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Correct ions not exceeding ten (10) years, or by a fine not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or by both such fine and imp risonment. Req. No. 495 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 G. H. 1. Any person who displays or causes to be displayed the words “State Police” alone or in conjunction with any othe r word or words on any motor vehicle, badge, clothing, identification ca rd, or any other object or document with the inten t to communicate peace officer or investigating authority shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). This paragraph shall not ap ply to any officer with statewide investigatory or law enforcement authority. 2. Any person who displays or causes to display such words as provided in this subsection for the purpose of falsely personating a law enforcement officer and as such commits an y act whereby another person is injured, defrauded , harassed, vexed or annoyed shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment i n the custody of the Department of Corrections not exceeding ten (10) years, or by a fine not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. H. I. As used in this section: 1. “Sham legal process” means the issuance, d isplay, delivery, distribution, reliance on as lawful authority, or other use of an instrument that is not lawfully issued, whether or not the instrument is produced for inspection or actually exists, and purports to do any of the following: a. to be a summons, subpoena, judgment, arrest w arrant, search warrant, or other order of a court recognized Req. No. 495 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 by the laws of this state, a law enforcement officer commissioned pursuant to state or federal law or the law of a federally recognized Indian tribe, or a legislative, executive, or administrativ e agency established by state or federal law or the law of a federally recognized Indian tribe, b. to assert jurisdicti on or authority over or determine or adjudicate the legal or equitable status, rights, duties, powers, or privileges of any person or property, or c. to require or authorize the search, seizure, indictment, arrest, trial, or sentencing of any person or property; and 2. “Lawfully issued” means adopted, issued, or rendered in accordance with the applicable s tatutes, rules, regulations, and ordinances of the United States, a state, or a political subdivision of a state. I. J. It shall not be a defense to a p rosecution under subsection B, C, D or E of this section that: 1. The recipient of the sham legal proc ess did not accept or believe in the authority falsely asserted in the sham legal process; 2. The person violating subsection B, C, D or E of this secti on does not believe in the jurisdiction or authority of this state or of the United States government; or Req. No. 495 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. The office the person violatin g subsection B, C, D or E of this section purports to hold does no t exist or is not an official office recognized by state or federal law. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 59-1-495 TEK 1/19/2023 1:06:13 PM