Criminal law; increase penalties for crimes of impersonating patrolman or law enforcement officer.

SB 2197 changes Mississippi law to treat impersonating police officers as a felony instead of a misdemeanor. It increases penalties for falsely claiming to be a state highway patrolman or any law enforcement officer, raising potential jail time to up to three years and fines to $5,000 for both offenses. The bill repeals a duplicate law (Section 97-7-43) that previously covered similar offenses. This directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers or patrolmen, making such actions carry significantly harsher criminal consequences. The bill was approved by the Senate but died in committee in March 2025.