§15-8-6 Standard color for motor vehicles used by sheriffs; standard badges and uniforms; wearing other than standard uniform or badge; unauthorized wearing of official uniforms or badges.
§15-8-6. Standard color for motor vehicles used by sheriffs; standard badges and uniforms; wearing other than standard uniform or badge; unauthorized wearing of official uniforms or badges.
(1) The bureau may by proper rules and regulations adopt a standard color for use on the motor vehicles used by the various sheriffs and deputy sheriffs of West Virginia.
(2) For purposes of uniformity the bureau may establish a standard badge and uniform to be worn by all sheriffs and deputy sheriffs.
(3) On and after the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred sixty-five, it shall be unlawful for any sheriff or deputy sheriff to wear other than the standard uniform and badge as provided by the preceding paragraph, except when engaged in undercover work or other similar duties wherein the identity of the officer should be undisclosed. When so adopted by the bureau it shall be unlawful for any person other than sheriffs and deputy sheriffs to wear an official sheriff's badge or uniform as prescribed by the bureau, or to wear a badge or insignia of such similarity to the official sheriff's badge as to be indistinguishable therefrom at a distance of twenty feet: Provided, That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent members of any military, fraternal, or similar organization or any other law-enforcement officer from wearing any insignia officially adopted or worn prior to the effective date of this section.
(4) Violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.