39RZ03 - The Title Protection Act

WHEREAS The reigning Monarch of Talossa and the government of the Kingdom award titles to certain individuals and

WHEREAS such titles are awarded to recognize the bearer for superior achievements or to recognize offices that said person holds and

WHEREAS there is nothing illegal about using titles one is not entitled to and

WHEREAS that is unfair to the people who rightfully earn their designation and so

THEREFORE the crimes of Improper use of a Noble Title and Impersonating an Officer of the King are hereby established and added to Talossan Criminal Code.

1. The crime of Improper Use of a Noble Title shall be divided into two degrees of severity:

I. The First Degree - A Felony - The party has improperly used a title of nobility or claims a title of nobility from an unrecognized government and willfully and maliciously attempts to deceive, defraud or mislead citizens into acknowledging their rule, soliciting funds without authorization, attempting to represent the Kingdom to outside governments without permission, approval or appointment from the King of Talossa. Any person who shall commit this crime shall be tried by the High Cort and, if found to be fully culpable, shall receive punishment no greater than imprisonment for a term to be determined by the Cort, and not less than an appropriate civil disability to be determined by the Cort.

II. The Second Degree - Misdemeanour - The party has improperly used a title of nobility or claims a title of nobility from an unrecognized government or claims membership in one of the Kingdom's chivalric orders without having been initiated to that order or claims membership in a chivalric order not authorized by the Kingdom of Talossa. Any person who shall commit this crime shall be tried by the High Cort and, if found to be fully culpable, shall receive a punishment no greater than an appropriate civil disability to be determined by the Cort and not less than a formal reprimand.

III. This act shall not be used to prosecute those who adopt a noble title for use within a private organization such as the Knights of Columbus, the Knights Templar et al who shall utilize the abbreviation "SK" in lieu of the style "Sir," or in the case of a woman, "NL" in lieu of the style "Lady," or to prosecute those who utilize a noble title or wear the insignia or display the arms of a noble, living or dead, as part of a play, re-creation of events, National Holiday celebration or costume party or to prosecute persons whose legal name contains a title of nobility as a first name unless they attempt to use that name in a deceitful or fraudulent manner.

IV. Monarchs, Nobles and Knights of foreign lands who wish to become subjects of the King of Talossa shall, after being granted citizenship, present themselves to the King's Court. If accepted, the King shall notify the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and the Scribe of Abavilla who shall make note of the government's recognition of the noble title.

V. Any title of nobility or knighthood, written or spoken in English, Talossan or any Romance Language shall be protected under this act.

VI. Neither pet nor pet owner shall be prosecuted under this act for bestowing upon said pet a name containing a noble title, such as "Duke" or "Prince" unless said pet attempts to engage in a plot to overthrow the government.

2. Any person who shall be found wearing the rank insignia, styling themselves with the title of or otherwise claiming to be a Commissioned or Warrant Officer in the Armed Forces of the Kingdom without proper authorization shall be guilty of Impersonating an Officer. This offense shall have two degrees of severity:

I. First Degree - Felony - The party willfully and maliciously claims to be an Officer or Warrant Officer in the King's military without proper authorization from the Ministry of Defence and does so in an attempt to deceive, defraud or mislead shall be tried by the High Cort and, if found to be fully culpable, shall receive a punishment not to exceed imprisonment and to be no less than a civil disability, the severity and length of which to be determined by the High Cort.

II. The Second Degree - Misdemeanour - Any person who wears the insignia of, uses the title of or claims to be an Officer or Warrant Officer in the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Talossa without proper authorization from the Ministry of Defence but who does so out of ignorance shall be guilty of Impersonation of an Officer in the Second Degree and shall receive written warning of their offence by the Ministry of Defence or a delegated official. If this warning should be ignored, charges may be filed and the accused will be tried by the High Cort. If found guilty, the Cort shall award a punishment not to exceed an appropriate civil disability.

III. Any Talossan Service Member who shall wear, display or use a title of a commissioned or warrant grade higher than the rank or grade they presently hold shall be said to be impersonating an Officer and shall be punished according to Military Regulations.

IV. Privateers are sanctioned by the Kingdom's government and shall be afforded protection from prosecution under this Act to use the title of "Capitan," as officers in the Navy Reserve, any fraudulent use of rank insignia shall be dealt with by the Ministry of Defence according to present military regulation.

V. Other persons protected from prosecution include any nautical officer of the public or private sector, commercial or private pilots who may use the title of "Captain" or "Capitan," or any other person designated by the National or Provincial Government to hold a title of office who shall be considered "authorised."

Noi urent q'estadra så,
Tímoþi Asmourescu (MC-RUMP)
Vit Caçeir (MC-PP)