No U.S. Federal Badges (real or reproduction) are permitted to be listed on this site. If you list one, the auction will be suspended.

There are two separate U.S. federal statutes regarding police badges, which creates a lot of confusion.

The first statute is 18 USC 716 which pertains to police badges IN GENERAL. ( http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000716----000-.html )

It does allow for badges, insignia & uniforms to be possessed if they are:

"used or is intended to be used exclusively— (4) for any other recreational purpose."


What many people fail to realize is that there is an additional statute, 18 USC 702 which is SPECIFIC TO FEDERAL BADGES, and has NO EXCEPTIONS for the above allowed purposes ( http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000701----000-.html )

Whoever manufactures, sells, or possesses any badge, identification card, or other insignia, of the design prescribed by the head of any department or agency of the United States for use by any officer or employee thereof, or any colorable imitation thereof, or photographs, prints, or in any other manner makes or executes any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the likeness of any such badge, identification card, or other insignia, or any colorable imitation thereof, except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.


By colorable ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorable ), my interpretation is that they mean any badge which a reasonable person would believe to be a real federal badge by it's appearance - which would include "movie prop" & "fantasy" badges such as CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit), NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service), NSA (National Security Agency), and similar type badges.