Mask Laws

It seems not all states have any laws or restrictions regarding wearing masks. They're just listed as the state in alphabetical order, with no extra information. But there is information regarding the states that do have laws regarding the wearing of masks. And of course as always, when it comes to researching laws such as these, feel free to research for yourself to confirm this. And if any laws have since changed, or if there are any errors here, feel free to post any corrections of errors you see posted here. Anyway, here's the link:

http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/mcs/maskcodes.html

ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA
Penal Code
Section 182-185

185. Section One Hundred and Eighty-five. It shall be unlawful for any person
to wear any mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise (whether complete or
partial) for the purpose of: One--Evading or escaping discovery, recognition,
or identification in the commission of any public offense. Two--Concealment, flight,
or escape, when charged with, arrested for, or convicted of, any public offense.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor.

COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE

DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA (Washington, D.C.)
§ 22-3312.03. Wearing hoods or masks.

(a) No person or persons over 16 years of age, while wearing any mask,
hood, or device whereby any portion of the face is hidden, concealed, or covered
as to conceal the identity of the wearer, shall:

(1) Enter upon,
be, or appear upon any lane, walk, alley, street, road highway, or other public
way in the District of Columbia;
(2) Enter upon, be, or appear upon or within
the public property of the District of Columbia; or
(3) Hold any manner
of meeting or demonstration.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a)
of this section apply only if the person was wearing the hood, mask, or other
device:
(1) With the intent to deprive any person or class of persons of
equal protection of the law or of equal privileges and immunities under the law,
or for the purpose of preventing or hindering the constituted authorities of the
United States or the District of Columbia from giving or securing for all persons
within the District of Columbia equal protection of the law;
(2) With the
intent, by force or threat of force, to injure, intimidate, or interfere with
any person because of his or her exercise of any right secured by federal or District
of Columbia laws, or to intimidate any person or any class of persons from exercising
any right secured by federal or District of Columbia laws;
(3) With the
intent to intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass any other person;
(4) With
the intent to cause another person to fear for his or her personal safety, or,
where it is probable that reasonable persons will be put in fear for their personal
safety by the defendant's actions, with reckless disregard for that probability;
or
(5) While engaged in conduct prohibited by civil or criminal law, with
the intent of avoiding identification.

FLORIDA
Chapter 876 Criminal Anarchy, Treason and other Crimes Against Public Order

[url=http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0876/SEC13.HTM&Title=-2007-Ch0876-Section 13#0876.13]876.13[/url]
Wearing mask, hood, or other device on public property.--No person or persons
shall in this state, while wearing any mask, hood, or device whereby any portion
of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of
the wearer, enter upon, or be, or appear upon or within the public property of
any municipality or county of the state.
[url=http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0876/SEC155.HTM&Title=-2007-Ch0876-Section 155#0876.155]876.155[/url]
Applicability; ss. 876.12-876.15.--The provisions of ss. 876.12-876.15 apply only
if the person was wearing the mask, hood, or other device:
(1)
With the intent to deprive any person or class of persons of the equal protection
of the laws or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws or for the purpose
of preventing the constituted authorities of this state or any subdivision thereof
from, or hindering them in, giving or securing to all persons within this state
the equal protection of the laws;
(2)
With the intent, by force or threat of force, to injure, intimidate, or interfere
with any person because of the person's exercise of any right secured by federal,
state, or local law or to intimidate such person or any other person or any class
of persons from exercising any right secured by federal, state, or local law;

(3) With the intent
to intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass any other person; or
(4)
While she or he was engaged in conduct that could reasonably lead to the institution
of a civil or criminal proceeding against her or him, with the intent of avoiding
identification in such a proceeding.

GEORGIA
Code Title
16 - Crimes and Offenses,16-11-38.
(a) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor
when he wears a mask, hood, or device by which any portion of the face is so hidden,
concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer and is upon any
public way or public property or upon the private property of another without
the written permission of the owner or occupier of the property to do so.
(b)
This Code section shall not apply to: (1) A person wearing a traditional holiday
costume on the occasion of the holiday; (2) A person lawfully engaged in trade
and employment or in a sporting activity where a mask is worn for the purpose
of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer, or because of the nature of the
occupation, trade, or profession, or sporting activity; (3) A person using a mask
in a theatrical production including use in Mardi gras celebrations and masquerade
balls; or (4) A person wearing a gas mask prescribed in emergency management drills
and exercises or emergencies.

HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MARYLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts
General Laws, Chapter
268 Section 34. Whoever disguises himself with intent to obstruct the due
execution of the law, or to intimidate, hinder or interrupt an officer or other
person in the lawful performance of his duty, or in the exercise of his rights
under the constitution or laws of the commonwealth, whether such intent is effected
or not, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by
imprisonment for not more than one year and may if imprisoned also be bound to
good behavior for one year after the expiration of such imprisonment.


MICHIGAN

750.396
Wearing Mask
or face covering device.
Sec.
396. A person who intentionally
conceals his or her identity by wearing a mask or other device covering his or
her face for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a crime is guilty of
a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of
not more than $500.00, or both.
History:
1931, Act 328, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;-- CL 1948, 750.396 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 672,
Eff. Mar. 31, 2003
Former Law: See sections 1 and 2 of Act 276 of 1923, being
CL 1929, §§ 16609 and 16610.


MINNESOTA
Statutes, Chapter Criminal Code, Section 609.735
609.735 Concealing identity.
A person whose identity is concealed by the person in a public place by means of
a robe, mask, or other disguise, unless based on religious beliefs, or incidental
to amusement, entertainment, protection from weather, or medical treatment, is
guilty of a misdemeanor. (HIST: 1963 c 753 art 1 s 609.735; 1971 c 23 s 73; 1986
c 444;1995 c 30 s 1)

MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW
HAMPSHIRE
NEW
JERSEY
NEW
MEXICO

NEW
YORK Penal Law 240.35 (4):
Being
masked or in any manner disguised by unusual or unnatural attire or facial alteration,
loiters, remains or congregates in a public place with other persons so masked
or disguised, or knowingly permits or aids persons so masked or disguised to congregate
in a public place; except that such conduct is not unlawful when it occurs in
connection with a masquerade party or like entertainment if, when such entertainment
is held in a city which has promulgated regulations in connection with such affairs,
permission is first obtained from the police or other appropriate authorities;
(National Lawyers Guild NYC Chapter paper on the anti-mask
law)

NORTH
CAROLINA While the following sections were enacted primarily
as a result of KKK activities, it has been enforced against people wearing other
types of masks, such as dust masks and team mascot masks.
§14-12.7.
Wearing of masks, hoods, etc., on public ways.

No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood
or device whereby the person, face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the
identity of the wearer, enter, be or appear upon any lane, walkway, alley, street,
road, highway or other public way in this State. (1953, c. 1193, s. 6; 1983, c.
175, ss. 1, 10; c. 720, s. 4.)
§14-12.8.
Wearing of masks, hoods, etc., on public property.
No person or persons shall in this State, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby the person,
face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter,
or appear upon or within the public property of any municipality or county of
the State, or of the State of North Carolina. (1953, c. 1193, s. 7.)

NORTH
DAKOTA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
RHODE
ISLAND
SOUTH
CAROLINA
SOUTH
DAKOTA
TENNEESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
VERMONT

VIRGINIA
Section 18.2-422:
Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places;
exceptions.
It shall be unlawful for any person over sixteen years of age
while wearing any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of
the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to
be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth
without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so
in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons
(i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades,
employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary
for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona
fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or
other device for bona fide medical reasons upon the advice of a licensed physician
or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath
specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which
the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description
of the device. The violation of any provisions of this section shall constitute
a Class 6 felony.

WASHINGTON

WEST
VIRGINIA 61-6-22.
Wearing masks, hoods or face coverings.
(a) Except
as otherwise provided in this section, no person, whether in a motor vehicle or
otherwise, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby any portion of the face
is so covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, may:
(1) Come into
or appear upon any walk, alley, street, road, highway or other thoroughfare dedicated
to public use;
(2) Come into or appear in any trading area, concourse, waiting
room, lobby or foyer open to, used by or frequented by the general public;

(3) Come into or appear upon or within any of the grounds or buildings owned,
leased, maintained or operated by the state or any political subdivision thereof;

(4) Ask, request, or demand entrance or admission to the premises, enclosure,
dwelling or place of business of any other person within this state; or
(5)
Attend or participate in any meeting upon private property of another unless written
permission for such meeting has first been obtained from the owner or occupant
thereof.
(b) The provisions of this section do not apply to any person:

(1) Under sixteen years of age;
(2) Wearing a traditional holiday costume;

(3) Engaged in a trade or employment where a mask, hood or device is worn for
the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer;
(4) Using a mask,
hood or device in theatrical productions, including use in mardi gras celebrations
or similar masquerade balls;
(5) Wearing a mask, hood or device prescribed
for civil defense drills, exercises or emergencies; or
(6) Wearing a mask,
hood or device for the sole purpose of protection from the elements or while participating
in a winter sport.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section
is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more
than five hundred dollars or imprisoned in the county jail not more than one year,
or both fined and imprisoned

WISCONSIN
WYOMING

mask laws suck!

Red Vision,

LOL Yeah - It's a weird (in?)balance though. A Mask Law limits a Super-Hero from their self-expression - and also limits their ability to hide their identity - however, it also helps prevent a wanted criminal from walking around in plain sight, while hiding under a mask.

With or without, it can be a win/lose, or lose/win.

I remember a couple of news stories:

There was a guy that was in a county jail, he starved himself until he could fit through the bars, and used a permanent marker to draw a mustach on his face. Dumb, and he stuck out like a sore thumb.

There was also an incident over a year ago that involved a Chinese man wearing a mask that made him look like an elderly Caucasian woman, then boarding a NYC subway. Needless to say, he freaked out some people, and was arrested. As it turned out, he was in a disguise because he was fleeing from persecution in a foreign country.

I think it should be based on your intentions really,if your breaking the law well that's fine. But If your helping people or doing cosplay or just having fun,no big deal,no harm done.

ShowStopper,
Haha! I remember you telling me about that.

Red Vision,
I've noticed that these laws aren't really heavily enforced. Many times, Police do unmask and search and question RLSH's that they see with masks - until they know who they are - but if they already make all the officers know about a particular superhero - then they aren't as likely to do that every time - but, also take in to consideration the fact that if they're smart they might start some conversations with them, to get to know them, make connections - and also if the RLSH has a mask and their identity is very well concealed enough, then that also means that some bad guy of a similar height and build could hide in plain sight, pretending to be that superhero. And even if they are as good with voices, make a similar sounding voice.

true,but our types of villains are too stupid to pull off such a stunt.lol (but I know what your saying.)

Red Vision,

Well - in that sense, short term smarts would be long term stupid. They would get caught as being an imposter and then in the long run they would most likely be helping whom ever they were trying to make look bad, once it was proven that they were different people. Because people know that when bad guys obsessively go after a particular good guy, that the good guy must be doing something right if the bad guys are that pissed off.

right,if something of this nature was to happen.

I've talked to police with my mask on, and there weren't any problems.

laws work different for girls,so that don't count.lol

Red Vision, what are you talking about?

I remember that one time that ShowStopper is talking about, it was that patrol we did the night before Hurricane Irene, and she was with me and she was wearing her mask, and I don't wear one so I don't know if that has something to do with it, or, the fact that the cops in this area who know us told the other cops about us. But yeah they didn't even say anything about it.

That was after we waved down a cop to tell them about an injured possum that might have had rabies, that we found in the road.

Jersey's pretty good with mask laws... as long as you dont look like you're doing anything wrong, most of the cops wont even bother to stop... Ive literally walked down the street with a table leg in each hand with my friend who had a broom stick and an old trash can lid and they just shook their head as they drove past

Hexx,

I've seen that same exact results from Cops some years ago in NYC, while on a patrol meet up with some others in the city. But, each time it's different. Just as even regular people have different reactions to it as well.

I agree with Tothian,it would depend on the officer.

Ive only had one cop try to force me to get rid of the Polarman persona However he was fired for other reasons not just because he tried to use the excuse that the other kids at the playground were scared of me when I knew full well that they were not He was more afraid of me than the kids were Other cops actually told me to just ignore him after one person wittnesed a confrotation between myself and the officer and I wasnt about to leave the child I was babysitting by himself or alone with that guy for any reason

My mother was a officer,she could be nice but very firm.

How would she deal with people like ourselves wearing masks RV?

My mother knew of my first gimmick & she was'nt crazy about it,however in time she would take a role in some of my cases with advice & she was'nt to thrilled with some of the stunts I did neither,fearing I would be harmed but again it was better then visiting me in jail for breaking the law. So everything worked out ok,she even liked my clown gimmick when I was with the red cross. I don't know what she would have thought of RED VISION? as she passed away in 2003. But for the most part,she would be interested in our ideas & methods & concerned for our general welfare,I'm sure also our secrets would be safe unless her trust was violated.

It's great that your mom supported you in your endeavors like that, few people I've talked to have that.

true.

Ive had my pic taken with dignitaries including both the queen and the prime minister while wearing my full outfit I had breakfast with the Governer General of Canada durring her visit in the spring of 2000 and met with the new Governer General this past summer on his tour of Nunavut Both times with my mask and in 2000 Adrian Clarkson and I posed on the steps I was shoveling out while I held my shovel

sweet!

Cool! What were their thoughts on you being Polarman?