There are a limited number of police items that may be listed on the site, provided they abide by any noted guidelines.

• Police uniforms. Uniforms must be obsolete and in no way resemble current issue police uniforms. This fact must be clearly stated within the listing description

• Mini-badges (size approximately 1 inch by 1 inch)

• Historical badges that do not resemble modern law enforcement badges (a sheriff's badge from the 19th century), provided that the item description must clearly state that the badge is a historical piece at least 75 years old or issued by a now-defunct organization

• Authorised general souvenir items, such as hats, mugs, pins, pens, buttons, cuff links, t-shirts, money clips that do not resemble badges, and paperweights that do not contain badges

• Badges that are clearly not official (e.g., plastic or cartoon badges)"

Sellers may list a law enforcement badge on eBay if:

• The law enforcement organisation that issues the badge or patch states in writing that it does not object to the sale of the item, and

• You post a copy of that letter with a valid law enforcement contact (name and phone number) on the site with the item.

The following contains a partial list of police-related items that may not be listed on eBay:

Badges, Uniforms or Identification

• State, Federal or International Law Enforcement badges

• Imitation or replica Law Enforcement badges

• Movie prop badges

• Identification or warrant cards

• Warrant Card wallets or holders

• "Badge patches"

• Raid Jackets

• Australian Defence Force, uniform, badges or patches (see Additional Information for details on Current Conflicts below)

• Defence emblems (see Additional Information for details below)

• Quasi-law enforcement badges (e.g., other emergency services badges)

• Official current or recent issue police or emergency services (Fire Brigade and Ambulance) uniforms including cloth shoulder patches

• Badges, patches or uniforms issued by private security companies

• Copies or reproductions of police badges. Such badges infringe upon the copyright and trademark rights of the agency that issued the badges.

Equipment, Devices or other Police-related Items

• Emergency vehicle lighting and sirens

• Traffic light control devices

• Official Police Crime Scene Tape or tape similar in appearance

• Crime Scene Videos or photographs

• Road Spikes

• Police or Law Enforcement signage for vehicles

• Radar Detectors (*Note: The Road Transport (Safety & Traffic Management) Act of 1999 (NSW) outlaws the possession or sale of items that assist in the avoidance of approved speeding detection devices. Accordingly radar detectors and items (by way of application or by attachment to a motor vehicle) that will obstruct the recording of a registration plate from camera dependant detection device are not permitted to be listed on eBay.)

Emergency services and law enforcement agencies generally prohibit any commercial reproduction of their name, seal or logo. Therefore, copies or reproductions of military, emergency services or law enforcement emblems may be ended. Such items infringe upon the copyright and trademark rights of the agency that owns the emblem.

Use of Defence Emblems

It is an offence under the Defence Act 1903 for a person to make, supply or offer to supply a defence emblem, without the written authority of the Minister of Defence or a person as authorised in writing by the minister. Any listing of a Defence emblems must clearly show this written authority. Please note that the unauthorised copying of a Defence emblem may also constitute a breach of the Commonwealth of Australia's copyright over a particular work.

Current Conflicts

Any military item, uniform (replica or genuine) or embroidered patch that is currently being used by any nation's defence force in current activity or conflict will NOT be permitted to be listed on eBay Australia. This prohibition further extends to any item that may be classified as a war trophy. The ending of these items will be at eBay's discretion.

eBay has spoken to over 500 federal, state, and international law enforcement organizations regarding their position on the sale of police-related items to the public. These organizations were concerned that individuals may use a badge or other police-related item to misrepresent themselves as a law enforcement officer to the public. In many cases, state and federal laws prohibit unauthorized individuals from even possessing a law enforcement badge. For example, one federal law specifically prohibits "the manufacture, sale(s), or possession of any federal badge without the specific authority of the head of the issuing department or agency of the US government...." 18 U.S.C. 701. Based upon this information eBay has decided not to permit the listing of police related items as described above.