# Impersonating law enforcement **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685 "2012-12-11T05:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bmochls2015](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@bmochls2015](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmochls2015)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/1 "2012-12-11T05:37:37Z")
Would renaming your SSID to “F.B.I. Joint Terrorism Task Force Surveillance Van” or something similar be considered impersonating a federal agent? ---
**Author:** ![bleibtreu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bleibtreu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleibtreu)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/2 "2012-12-11T06:03:57Z")
> [@bmochls2015](#): > > Would renaming your SSID to “F.B.I. Joint Terrorism Task Force Surveillance Van” or something similar be considered impersonating a federal agent? No, at least not in any jurisdiction I’m aware of. While it’s unlikely that any statute anywhere has addressed the issue of impersonation via SSID directly, a required element of criminal impersonation charges generally is that the subject acts with intent to obtain a benefit, to injure another person, or to induce another person to submit to the pretended authority. Generally also required is that a direct claim to be a law enforcement officer, or display of an identifiable uniform or badge. For example, NY Penal Law: [Article 190 | New York State Penal Law | Frauds | NYS Laws](http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article190.htm#p190.26) Anyway, when the intent is clearly to propagate a well-known joke, legal defense should be pretty easy. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/3 "2012-12-11T15:30:48Z")
> [@bmochls2015](#): > > Would renaming your SSID to “F.B.I. Joint Terrorism Task Force Surveillance Van” or something similar be considered impersonating a federal agent? No, but it would be considered engaging in an extremely old joke in the third degree. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/4 "2012-12-11T16:23:29Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > No, but it would be considered engaging in an extremely old joke in the third degree. An “extremely old” joke about wifi? This makes me feel old. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/5 "2012-12-11T17:19:09Z")
That’s the equivalent of flashing a “Secret Agent” badge you can buy in a toy store. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/6 "2012-12-11T19:10:28Z")
So I can’t get in trouble if I tell women I’m a Feeling Boobs Inspector? ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/7 "2012-12-11T19:46:21Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So I can’t get in trouble if I tell women I’m a Feeling Boobs Inspector? As long as you don’t interfere with the work of those who are actually charged with this task. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/8 "2012-12-11T20:02:15Z")
It’ll be more fun to call your router “Marijuana Grow House”. Then just kick back and watch the _real_ surveillance vans gather 'round. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/9 "2012-12-11T21:08:24Z")
On a related note: > [@](#): > > The 13 most enjoyably passive-aggressive WiFi networks in the short history of WiFi. [http://www.happyplace.com/17672/passive-aggressive-wifi-network-names-neighbors-funny-paper-stealing-sex](http://www.happyplace.com/17672/passive-aggressive-wifi-network-names-neighbors-funny-paper-stealing-sex) ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/10 "2012-12-12T00:44:30Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > No, but it would be considered engaging in an extremely old joke in the third degree. How does that compare to your “deflectoscreeching[sup]1[/sup]” neologism? Awww FUCK!!! > [@Why is Israel rich and Palestine poor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-israel-rich-and-palestine-poor/643629/6): > > [sub]1. Yes, I just invented that. You owe me a dollar each time you use it.[/sub] \ ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/11 "2012-12-12T13:19:46Z")
Could someone humor me and explain what the old joke being rehashed is? I’m ashamed to say it but I’ve never heard it before ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/12 "2012-12-12T13:24:55Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Could someone humor me and explain what the old joke being rehashed is? I’m ashamed to say it but I’ve never heard it before ☹ Step 1: Unsuspecting person in their home checks to see what Wi-fi networks are available. Step 2: Person sees that the “FBI” has a network within range, supposedly within a van nearby. Step 3: Person supposedly freaks out. No profit ensues. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/13 "2012-12-12T14:48:33Z")
Wow no wonder I’ve never heard of this “prank” or “joke.” That’s just stupid and lame. Is there really nothing more to it than that? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/14 "2012-12-12T19:43:26Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So I can’t get in trouble if I tell women I’m a Feeling Boobs Inspector? No, and it might help you to get it off your chest. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impersonating-law-enforcement/643685/15 "2012-12-12T20:00:01Z")
> [@bmochls2015](#): > > Would renaming your SSID to “F.B.I. Joint Terrorism Task Force Surveillance Van” or something similar be considered impersonating a federal agent? Did not bother to look up federal law, in my state, that is a crime. (4)”Impersonate” means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of, or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons. (B) No person shall impersonate a peace officer, private police officer, **federal law enforcement officer** , or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. > **[Section 2921.51 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2921.51)**