§15-2-17. Unauthorized use of uniform, badge or other insignia; impersonation of member; penalty.

Every person who is not a member of the department is hereby forbidden to wear, use, order to be used or worn, copy or imitate in any respect or manner the uniform, badge, insignia and equipment prescribed for members of the West Virginia State Police, and any person who shall violate the provisions of this article, for which no other penalty is expressly provided, and any person who shall falsely represent himself or herself to be an officer or member of the West Virginia State Police, or to be under the order or direction of any officer or member of said department, or who shall, unless an officer or member thereof, wear the uniform prescribed for members of said department, or the badge or other insignia adopted or used by said department, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $200, or confined in the county jail for not more than six months, or both fined and confined:  Provided, That items sold at the State Police post exchange as outlined in article two-e of this chapter do not qualify as agency issued uniforms, badge, insignia or equipment.