HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1626
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to PRIVATE DETECTIVE AND PRIVATE GUARD IDENTIFICATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that within the State some private security guards may refer to or label themselves as police officers or law enforcement officers despite the fact that these individuals are not public servants vested by law and do not represent county, state, or federal law enforcement organizations.  The legislature notes that private detectives and private guards are not permitted to imply any association with a government agency.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to clarify that private detectives and private guards are prohibited from self-identifying as a law enforcement officer, police, or police officer.

     SECTION 2.  Section 463-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§463-11  Association with government not to be implied. (a)  No licensee shall use any designation or trade name which implies any association with any municipal, county, state, or territorial government or the federal government, or any agency thereof; nor shall a licensee or employee of any licensee wear or use any badge [or], uniform, equipment, vehicle, or other accoutrement capable of being associated with the badge [or], uniform, equipment, vehicle, or accoutrement of any law enforcement officer employed by a government law enforcement organization[.]; nor shall a licensee or employee of any licensee use the terms "law enforcement officer", "police", or "police officer" to self-identify.

(b)  Any licensee or employee of any licensee who violates this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both.

(c)  For purposes of this section, "law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as in section 710-1000."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Private Detectives; Private Guards; Law Enforcement Officers; Association with Government Agency Prohibited; Identification; Penalty

Description:

Prohibits private detectives and private guards from self-identifying as law enforcement officers, police, or police officers and wearing or using any badge, uniform, equipment, vehicle, or other accoutrement capable of being associated with that of a law enforcement officer employed by a government law enforcement organization.  Imposes a fine for violations.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.