Stolen Valor laws in Maine and Delaware

| August 11, 2016

Yesterday, two states joined the growing number which have their own Stolen Valor laws – Maine and Delaware. WCSH6 says that the Maine law is a little tougher;

This bill takes that a step further [from the Federal Stolen Valor Act] by saying “anyone impersonating”. For example, a person asking for money on the side of the road saying they are a homeless vet. If they were not able to prove they were a veteran, they would be fined. Most veterans have their Military I.D.’s on them at all times or have access to them.

The article on the Maine law references a fine, but doesn’t say how much the fine is. In Delaware, that’s all there is – a fine;

According to a release from the Delaware House of Representatives, House Bill 80, as amended, expands the crime of criminal impersonation to include those who falsely claim to be current or past members of the U.S. military for the purpose of “obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit.” The legislation also apparently applies to veterans who try to benefit by deceptively claiming a higher rank then they achieved.

State Representative Rich Collins says the Class A misdemeanor carries a minimum fine of $1,000 that cannot be suspended by a judge.

Category: Stolen Valor Act

30 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Akpual

I’m a veteran out for 45 years and until this year never carried ID to prove my status.

Akpual

Had 214 at home though.

B Woodman

Akpul,
But then again, you’re not begging by the side of the road.

Akpual

Not yet. But I might want to move to Mattawamkeag and hang out near the Crossroads motel to supplement my retirement. .

desert

If you are in the VA you carry i.d.!!

Madconductor

Wow. “Cannot be suspended by a judge”. That’s a meaty law. Good on them.

Cyber O-3E

We’re going to fine the homeless?

Frankie Cee "In the clear"

NO! We’re not going to fine the homeless. We are going to fine the criminal element among the homeless.
You know, sorta like the “Trump don’t like Mexicans” meme, when in fact, Trump don’t like Illlegal Immigrants.
Large difference.

Retired Grunt

Hmmm… unless they retired or have a VA issued ID card, which many dont, a veteran should not have possession of his/her ID card. I had to turn mine in every time I was discharged. Who honestly carries a copy of their DD214 around. Im sure some do but I dont.

Akpual

Exactly. Also for instance you can get a veteran notation on your drivers license here in PA, but it proves nothing because you don’t have to prove it, jist answer a question when you get it renewed. It proves nothing. Sorry for the rambling.h

Silentium Est Aureum

Where I live you have to show a certified copy of your 214. Just claiming you are isn’t enough.

Twist

You don’t have to prove it? I had to show my DD 214 to get the veterans notation on my DL.

Akpual

Nope they just asked me at PennDot. So what good is it??

AW1 Tim

In Maine you can’t get the veterans status indicator on your driver’s license without showing an original copy of your DD-214.

Maine’s DL have a special background f a blue field with white stars on the photograph to show veteran’s status.

Also, you will have to show an original copy of the DD-214 to get veteran’s plates, etc.

In addition, if you’ve enrolled in the VA health care system, you’ll have a photo ID issued by them to you that will prove your veteran’s status if needs be.

I’m very proud of Maine for finally bringing this int law. Governor LePage is a good man and he has been instrumental in seeing that this got done.

Frankie Cee "In the clear"

If this is a “homeless veteran”, surely he/she would be in the VA healthcare just because of the availability of medical care at no cost to the individual. I have no “disability claim”, yet nearly all of my healthcare is through the VA; from basic wellness checkups, to my very recently inserted Pacemaker. The VA does what I need done, and I am sure that I am not alone in this.

Silentium Est Aureum

I carry my AL and VFW life membership cards. If that isn’t good enough, tough shit.

Then again, I don’t go around shouting about my vet status.

Akpual

Right.

Reaperman

So where does this ‘veteran ID’ come from? I sure don’t have one. I’m not disabled, and didn’t retire–isn’t that pretty much most vets?

About all I would have access to is my 214–which I sure as hell don’t keep on me.

Cyber O-3E

I seriously doubt your average homeless person has a copy of their vital records handy at all time either. Seems like this law will be difficult to enforce.

Retired Grunt

They did just pass a law or order that does allow the VA to start issuing veterans ID cards to those who are not enrolled and service connected, so if you are a vet and want a specific vet ID, you can contact the VA and get one. They started this bease of all of the recent publicized stolen valor cases.

26Limabeans

I just show them the scars. Don’t need no stinkin papers.

Just An Old Dog

I could do that but it would probably get me in bigger trouble the only operation I ever had in the service was a circumcision.

Kevin

If you are a veteran what military ID would you have? Your military ID is supposed to be turned when d/c’d. Unless you are retired, 100% service connected you will not have a military ID. Great law though.

Kevin

The Veterans Affairs issues ID cards to vets.

Akpual

Do you have to be in health care system?

Kevin

I believe you do. The card the next poster is talking about is not the same.

ChipNASA

You have to have an eBenefits account (Which is easy to establish) and you can go to the documents link here

https://eauth.va.gov/ebenefits/manage/documents

and under that go to

VA Letters

Download and modify VA letters, including Civil Service Preferences, Commissary and Exchange Privileges, Service Benefit Verification and Proof of Service Card.

and then go to

Proof of Service Card

Create a Proof of Service Card to confirm you’ve honorably served in the Uniformed Services.

You can print it out yourself and maybe laminate it or fold it up and carry it in your wallet or whatever.

It looks like this (With the PII whited out)

http://cdn.themilitarywallet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/veteran-proof-of-service-letter.jpg

Akpual

Ok tks

Ex-PH2

Original copy of DD-214? How does that prove anything? I don’t have the original copies of mine. I have no idea where they are, either. I have photocopies the VA sent me. If that isn’t sufficient, then what is?

I don’t know if I’d put ‘vet’ status on my driver’s license, anyway. Some police people seem to think that’s a license to be obnoxious over nothing.