Any person who hinders or impersonates an employee of the Department is chargeable with what?

• A. A First Degree Misdemeanor
• B. A Felony
• C. An Infraction
• D. A Second Degree Misdemeanor

Answer: (D)

The main concept here is how Florida law penalizes interfering with or impersonating a public department employee. Hindering a Department employee or falsely presenting yourself as such an employee undermines the ability of officials to perform their duties and to protect public health, so the law assigns a criminal penalty to this conduct.

This offense is classified as a second-degree misdemeanor, which means it carries more serious implications than an infraction but doesn't rise to the level of a felony. Typically, it allows for up to 60 days in jail and fines up to $500. It isn’t a felony because it doesn’t involve the harsher elements or greater harm that elevate crimes to felony status. It isn’t an infraction, which would be a minor violation without jail time, and it isn’t a first-degree misdemeanor, which would carry a higher level of punishment than what this offense normally warrants.