N.Y.
General Business Law Section 137
Unauthorized wearing or use of badge, name or insignia of certain orders and societies
1.
Any person who wilfully wears, or attaches to any motor vehicle, the badge, insignia, rosette or the button of the Grand Army of the Republic, the insignia, badge or rosette of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States or Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States, or the badge or button of the United Spanish War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Military Order of the World War, the Army and Navy Union, U.S.A., or the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, or the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America, or the Steuben Society of America, or the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Inc., or the Catholic War Veterans, Inc., or the insignia or emblem of the Italian American War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated, or the insignia or emblem of the National Italo-American War Veterans, Inc., the insignia or emblem of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, Inc., or the insignia or emblem of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Inc., or the insignia or emblem of any lodge, society or organization subordinate to or recognized as Masonic by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, or the insignia or emblem of the Masonic War Veterans of the State of New York, Inc., or the insignia or emblem of the Order of the Eastern Star of the State of New York, or the badge, banner, insignia, button or emblem of any lodge, society or organization subordinate to or recognized as Pythian by the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias of the State of New York, or the badge, insignia, button, tab, or chapeaux of La Societe des Forty Hommes et eight Chevaux or the Marine Corps League, or AMVETS, American Veterans of World War II, Air Force Association, or the insignia or emblem of the Knights of Columbus, or the badge, shield, emblem or name of the Police Conference of New York, Inc., or the badge, shield, emblem or name of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, or the shield of the Westchester County Police Conference or the badge, shield, emblem or name of the New York State Fire Fighters Association, or the badge, shield, emblem or name of the Policemen’s Benevolent Association of Westchester County, Inc., or the badge, shield, emblem or name of the Metropolitan Police Conference of Eastern New York, Inc., or the badge, shield, emblem or name of the Nassau Police Conference, Inc., or the badge, shield, emblem or name of the International Veterans Boxers Association, or the badge, shield, emblem, insignia or name of the Grand council of Guardians, Inc., or the badge, shield, emblem or name of the New York Veteran Police Association, or the insignia, emblem, badge, banner, button of Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Order Sons of Italy in America, Incorporated, or any subordinate Lodge or Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Order Sons of Italy in America, Incorporated, or the insignia, emblem, badge, banner, button of Ladies’ Lodges, Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Order Sons of Italy in America, Incorporated, or the badge, banner, insignia, button or emblem of any clan of the United Scottish Clans of New York and New Jersey, or the insignia, emblem, badge, banner or button of The Ladies Auxiliary, Italian American War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated, or the Civil Air Patrol, Inc., or the insignia, emblem, badge, banner or button of the Order of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, Incorporated, or the insignia, emblem, badge, banner or button of the Polish Legion of American Veterans or Ladies Auxiliary of Polish Legion of American Veterans, or the insignia, emblem, badge, banner, or button of the Veterans of World War I of the United States of America Department of New York, Inc., China-Burma-India Veterans Association, Inc., Polish - American Veterans of World War II, Amsterdam, N. Y., Inc., Polish-American Veterans of World War II, Schenectady, N. Y., Inc., World War Veterans Club of Lindenhurst, Inc., the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Army and Navy Union of the United States, the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., Regular Veterans Association, Inc., the 369th Veterans Association, Inc., the Tri-County Council of Vietnam Veterans, the National Congress of Puerto Rican Veterans, or the Fleet Reserve Association, or the badge, insignia, rosette or button of any society, order or organization of ten years standing in the state of New York, or uses the same, or the name of any such society, order or organization by falsely representing himself to be a member thereof in good standing, to obtain, or in attempting to obtain, aid or assistance within the state, or wilfully uses the names of any such society, order or organization, or the titles of its officers, or uses its insignia or emblems, or the forms or designs thereof, or its ritual or ceremonies unless entitled to use or wear the same under the constitution and by-laws, rules, and regulations of such order or of such society, order or organization, is guilty of a violation punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars.2.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed as superseding any provision of law prohibiting certain use and display on private vehicles of state and other seals and insignia and of specified signs, lettering or devices.
Source:
Section 137 — Unauthorized wearing or use of badge, name or insignia of certain orders and societies, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/137 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Oct. 26, 2024).
