reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 6 - Embezzlement › Section 514.

514. Every person guilty of embezzlement is punishable in the manner prescribed for theft of property of the value or kind embezzled; and where the property embezzled is an evidence of debt or right of action, the sum due upon it or secured to be paid by it must be taken as its value; if the embezzlement or defalcation is of the public funds of the United States, or of this state, or of any county or municipality within this state, the offense is a felony, and is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison; and the person so convicted is ineligible thereafter to any office of honor, trust, or profit in this state.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1139.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 6 - Embezzlement › Section 515.

515. Upon conviction of a felony violation under this chapter, the fact that the victim was an elder or dependent person, as defined in Section 288, shall be considered a circumstance in aggravation when imposing a term under subdivision (b) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 823, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2005.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 518.

518. (a) Extortion is the obtaining of property or other consideration from another, with his or her consent, or the obtaining of an official act of a public officer, induced by a wrongful use of force or fear, or under color of official right.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, “consideration” means anything of value, including sexual conduct as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 311.3, or an image of an intimate body part as defined in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (j) of Section 647.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not apply to a person under 18 years of age who has obtained consideration consisting of sexual conduct or an image of an intimate body part.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 518, Sec. 1. (SB 500) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 519.

519. Fear, such as will constitute extortion, may be induced by a threat of any of the following:
1. To do an unlawful injury to the person or property of the individual threatened or of a third person.
2. To accuse the individual threatened, or a relative of his or her, or a member of his or her family, of a crime.
3. To expose, or to impute to him, her, or them a deformity, disgrace, or crime.
4. To expose a secret affecting him, her, or them.
5. To report his, her, or their immigration status or suspected immigration status.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 71, Sec. 123. (SB 1304) Effective January 1, 2015.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 520.

520. Every person who extorts property or other consideration from another, under circumstances not amounting to robbery or carjacking, by means of force, or any threat, such as is mentioned in Section 519, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for two, three or four years.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 518, Sec. 2. (SB 500) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 521.

521. Every person who commits any extortion under color of official right, in cases for which a different punishment is not prescribed in this Code, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Enacted 1872.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 522.

522. Every person who, by any extortionate means, obtains from another his signature to any paper or instrument, whereby, if such signature were freely given, any property would be transferred, or any debt, demand, charge, or right of action created, is punishable in the same manner as if the actual delivery of such debt, demand, charge, or right of action were obtained.
(Enacted 1872.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 523.

523. (a) Every person who, with intent to extort property or other consideration from another, sends or delivers to any person any letter or other writing, whether subscribed or not, expressing or implying, or adapted to imply, any threat such as is specified in Section 519 is punishable in the same manner as if such property or other consideration were actually obtained by means of such threat.
(b) (1) Every person who, with intent to extort property or other consideration from another, introduces ransomware into any computer, computer system, or computer network is punishable pursuant to Section 520 in the same manner as if such property or other consideration were actually obtained by means of the ransomware.
(2) Prosecution pursuant to this subdivision does not prohibit or limit prosecution under any other law.
(c) (1) “Ransomware” means a computer contaminant, as defined in Section 502, or lock placed or introduced without authorization into a computer, computer system, or computer network that restricts access by an authorized person to the computer, computer system, computer network, or any data therein under circumstances in which the person responsible for the placement or introduction of the ransomware demands payment of money or other consideration to remove the computer contaminant, restore access to the computer, computer system, computer network, or data, or otherwise remediate the impact of the computer contaminant or lock.
(2) A person is responsible for placing or introducing ransomware into a computer, computer system, or computer network if the person directly places or introduces the ransomware or directs or induces another person to do so, with the intent of demanding payment or other consideration to remove the ransomware, restore access, or otherwise remediate the impact of the ransomware.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 518, Sec. 3. (SB 500) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 524.

524. Every person who attempts, by means of any threat, such as is specified in Section 519 of this code, to extort property or other consideration from another is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not longer than one year or in the state prison or by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 518, Sec. 4. (SB 500) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 525.

525. Upon conviction of a felony violation under this chapter, the fact that the victim was an elder or dependent person, as defined in Section 288, shall be considered a circumstance in aggravation when imposing a term under subdivision (b) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 823, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2005.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 526.

526. Any person, who, with intent to obtain from another person any property or other consideration, delivers or causes to be delivered to the other person any paper, document or written, typed or printed form purporting to be an order or other process of a court, or designed or calculated by its writing, typing or printing, or the arrangement thereof, to cause or lead the other person to believe it to be an order or other process of a court, when in fact such paper, document or written, typed or printed form is not an order or process of a court, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and each separate delivery of any paper, document or written, typed or printed form shall constitute a separate offense.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 518, Sec. 5. (SB 500) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 7 - Extortion › Section 527.

527. Any person who shall sell or offer for sale, print, publish, or distribute any paper, document or written, typed or printed form, designed or calculated by its writing, typing or printing, or the arrangement thereof, to cause or lead any person to believe it to be, or that it will be used as an order or other process of a court when in fact such paper, document or written, typed or printed form is not to be used as the order or process of a court, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and each separate publication, printing, distribution, sale or offer to sell any such paper, document or written, typed or printed form shall constitute a separate offense, and upon conviction thereof in addition to any other sentence imposed the court may order that all such papers or documents or written, typed or printed forms in the possession or under the control of the person found guilty of such misdemeanor shall be delivered to such court or the clerk thereof for destruction.
(Added by Stats. 1929, Ch. 593.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 528.

528. Every person who falsely personates another, and in such assumed character marries or pretends to marry, or to sustain the marriage relation towards another, with or without the connivance of such other, is guilty of a felony.
(Enacted 1872.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 528.5.

528.5. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who knowingly and without consent credibly impersonates another actual person through or on an Internet Web site or by other electronic means for purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person is guilty of a public offense punishable pursuant to subdivision (d).
(b) For purposes of this section, an impersonation is credible if another person would reasonably believe, or did reasonably believe, that the defendant was or is the person who was impersonated.
(c) For purposes of this section, “electronic means” shall include opening an e-mail account or an account or profile on a social networking Internet Web site in another person’s name.
(d) A violation of subdivision (a) is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(e) In addition to any other civil remedy available, a person who suffers damage or loss by reason of a violation of subdivision (a) may bring a civil action against the violator for compensatory damages and injunctive relief or other equitable relief pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of subdivision (e) and subdivision (g) of Section 502.
(f) This section shall not preclude prosecution under any other law.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 335, Sec. 1. (SB 1411) Effective January 1, 2011.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 529.

529. (a) Every person who falsely personates another in either his or her private or official capacity, and in that assumed character does any of the following, is punishable pursuant to subdivision (b):
(1) Becomes bail or surety for any party in any proceeding whatever, before any court or officer authorized to take that bail or surety.
(2) Verifies, publishes, acknowledges, or proves, in the name of another person, any written instrument, with intent that the same may be recorded, delivered, or used as true.
(3) Does any other act whereby, if done by the person falsely personated, he might, in any event, become liable to any suit or prosecution, or to pay any sum of money, or to incur any charge, forfeiture, or penalty, or whereby any benefit might accrue to the party personating, or to any other person.
(b) By a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 381. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 529a.

529a. Every person who manufactures, produces, sells, offers, or transfers to another any document purporting to be either a certificate of birth or certificate of baptism, knowing such document to be false or counterfeit and with the intent to deceive, is guilty of a crime, and upon conviction therefor, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. Every person who offers, displays, or has in his or her possession any false or counterfeit certificate of birth or certificate of baptism, or any genuine certificate of birth which describes a person then living or deceased, with intent to represent himself or herself as another or to conceal his or her true identity, is guilty of a crime, and upon conviction therefor, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 382. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 529.5.

529.5. (a) Every person who manufactures, sells, offers for sale, or transfers any document, not amounting to counterfeit, purporting to be a government-issued identification card or driver’s license, which by virtue of the wording or appearance thereon could reasonably deceive an ordinary person into believing that it is issued by a government agency, and who knows that the document is not a government-issued document, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment.
(b) Any person who, having been convicted of a violation of subdivision (a), is subsequently convicted of a violation of subdivision (a), is punishable for the subsequent conviction by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment.
(c) Any person who possesses a document described in subdivision (a) and who knows that the document is not a government-issued document is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500). The misdemeanor fine shall be imposed except in unusual cases where the interests of justice would be served. The court may allow an offender to work off the fine by doing community service. If community service work is not available, the misdemeanor shall be punishable by a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), based on the person’s ability to pay.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 505, Sec. 6. (SB 485) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 529.6.

529.6. (a) (1) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Freedom to Count Act.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that all Californians have access to accurate, timely information about the census and that all Californians have the opportunity to participate in the census freely and without fear of fraud, intimidation, or harm.
(b) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, who does either of the following:
(1) Falsely represents that they are a census taker with the intent to interfere with the operation of the census or with the intent to obtain information or consent to an otherwise unlawful search or seizure.
(2) Falsely assumes some or all of the activities of a census taker with the intent to interfere with the operation of the census or with the intent to obtain information or consent to an otherwise unlawful search or seizure.
(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 831, Sec. 2. (AB 1563) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 529.7.

529.7. Any person who obtains, or assists another person in obtaining, a driver’s license, identification card, vehicle registration certificate, or any other official document issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, with knowledge that the person obtaining the document is not entitled to the document, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year, or a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 907, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 530.

530. Every person who falsely personates another, in either his private or official capacity, and in such assumed character receives any money or property, knowing that it is intended to be delivered to the individual so personated, with intent to convert the same to his own use, or to that of another person, or to deprive the true owner thereof, is punishable in the same manner and to the same extent as for larceny of the money or property so received.
(Amended by Stats. 1905, Ch. 523.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 530.55.

530.55. (a) For purposes of this chapter, “person” means a natural person, living or deceased, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability company, or public entity, or any other legal entity.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, “personal identifying information” means any name, address, telephone number, health insurance number, taxpayer identification number, school identification number, state or federal driver’s license, or identification number, social security number, place of employment, employee identification number, professional or occupational number, mother’s maiden name, demand deposit account number, savings account number, checking account number, PIN (personal identification number) or password, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-assigned number, government passport number, date of birth, unique biometric data including fingerprint, facial scan identifiers, voiceprint, retina or iris image, or other unique physical representation, unique electronic data including information identification number assigned to the person, address or routing code, telecommunication identifying information or access device, information contained in a birth or death certificate, or credit card number of an individual person, or an equivalent form of identification.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 296, Sec. 45. (AB 1096) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 530.7.

530.7. (a) In order for a victim of identity theft to be included in the data base established pursuant to subdivision (c), he or she shall submit to the Department of Justice a court order obtained pursuant to any provision of law, a full set of fingerprints, and any other information prescribed by the department.
(b) Upon receiving information pursuant to subdivision (a), the Department of Justice shall verify the identity of the victim against any driver’s license or other identification record maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(c) The Department of Justice shall establish and maintain a data base of individuals who have been victims of identity theft. The department shall provide a victim of identity theft or his or her authorized representative access to the data base in order to establish that the individual has been a victim of identity theft. Access to the data base shall be limited to criminal justice agencies, victims of identity theft, and individuals and agencies authorized by the victims.
(d) The Department of Justice shall establish and maintain a toll-free telephone number to provide access to information under subdivision (c).
(e) This section shall be operative September 1, 2001.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 854, Sec. 30. Effective January 1, 2002.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 531.

531. Every person who is a party to any fraudulent conveyance of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, goods or chattels, or any right or interest issuing out of the same, or to any bond, suit, judgment, or execution, contract or conveyance, had, made, or contrived with intent to deceive and defraud others, or to defeat, hinder, or delay creditors or others of their just debts, damages, or demands; or who, being a party as aforesaid, at any time wittingly and willingly puts in, uses, avows, maintains, justifies, or defends the same, or any of them, as true, and done, had, or made in good faith, or upon good consideration, or aliens, assigns, or sells any of the lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels, or other things before mentioned, to him or them conveyed as aforesaid, or any part thereof, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Enacted 1872.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 531a.

531a. Every person who, with intent to defraud, knowingly executes or procures another to execute any instrument purporting to convey any real property, or any right or interest therein, knowing that such person so executing has no right to or interest in such property, or who files or procures the filing of any such instrument, knowing that the person executing the same had no right, title or interest in the property so purported to be conveyed, is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year or by fine of five thousand dollars or both.
(Added by Stats. 1929, Ch. 337.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 532.

532. (a) Every person who knowingly and designedly, by any false or fraudulent representation or pretense, defrauds any other person of money, labor, or property, whether real or personal, or who causes or procures others to report falsely of his or her wealth or mercantile character, and by thus imposing upon any person obtains credit, and thereby fraudulently gets possession of money or property, or obtains the labor or service of another, is punishable in the same manner and to the same extent as for larceny of the money or property so obtained.
(b) Upon a trial for having, with an intent to cheat or defraud another designedly, by any false pretense, obtained the signature of any person to a written instrument, or having obtained from any person any labor, money, or property, whether real or personal, or valuable thing, the defendant cannot be convicted if the false pretense was expressed in language unaccompanied by a false token or writing, unless the pretense, or some note or memorandum thereof is in writing, subscribed by or in the handwriting of the defendant, or unless the pretense is proven by the testimony of two witnesses, or that of one witness and corroborating circumstances. This section does not apply to a prosecution for falsely representing or personating another, and, in that assumed character, marrying, or receiving any money or property.
(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 897, Sec. 22.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 532c.

532c. Any person, firm, corporation or copartnership who knowingly and designedly offers or gives with winning numbers at any drawing of numbers or with tickets of admission to places of public assemblage, any lot or parcel of real property and charges or collects fees in connection with the transfer thereof, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Added by renumbering Section 532a (as added by Stats. 1913, Ch. 70) by Stats. 1935, Ch. 338.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 532d.

532d. (a) Any person who solicits or attempts to solicit or receives money or property of any kind for a charitable, religious or eleemosynary purpose and who, directly or indirectly, makes, utters, or delivers, either orally or in writing, an unqualified statement of fact concerning the purpose or organization for which the money or property is solicited or received, or concerning the cost and expense of solicitation or the manner in which the money or property or any part thereof is to be used, which statement is in fact false and was made, uttered, or delivered by that person either willfully and with knowledge of its falsity or negligently without due consideration of those facts which by the use of ordinary care he or she should have known, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.
(b) An offense charged in violation of this section shall be proven by the testimony of one witness and corroborating circumstances.
(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the right of any city, county, or city and county to adopt regulations for charitable solicitations which are not in conflict with this section.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 166, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 532e.

532e. Any person who receives money for the purpose of obtaining or paying for services, labor, materials or equipment incident to constructing improvements on real property and willfully rebates any part of the money to or on behalf of anyone contracting with such person, for provision of the services, labor, materials or equipment for which the money was given, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however, that normal trade discount for prompt payment shall not be considered a violation of this section.
(Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 1145.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 533.

533. Every person who, after once selling, bartering, or disposing of any tract of land or town lot, or after executing any bond or agreement for the sale of any land or town lot, again willfully and with intent to defraud previous or subsequent purchasers, sells, barters, or disposes of the same tract of land or town lot, or any part thereof, or willfully and with intent to defraud previous or subsequent purchasers, executes any bond or agreement to sell, barter, or dispose of the same land or lot, or any part thereof, to any other person for a valuable consideration, is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 386. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 534.

534. Every person who is married or in a registered domestic partnership, who falsely and fraudulently represents himself or herself as competent to sell or mortgage any real estate, to the validity of which sale or mortgage the assent or concurrence of his or her spouse is necessary, and under such representations willfully conveys or mortgages the same, is guilty of a felony.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 73. (SB 1005) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 535.

535. Every person who obtains any money or property from another, or obtains the signature of another to any written instrument, the false making of which would be forgery, by means of any false or fraudulent sale of property or pretended property, by auction, or by any of the practices known as mock auctions, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, and, in addition, is disqualified for a period of three years from acting as an auctioneer in this state.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 387. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 536.

536. Every commission merchant, broker, agent, factor, or consignee, who shall willfully and corruptly make, or cause to be made, to the principal or consignor of such commission merchant, agent, broker, factor, or consignee, a false statement as to the price obtained for any property consigned or entrusted for sale, or as to the quality or quantity of any property so consigned or entrusted, or as to any expenditures made in connection therewith, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not less than two hundred dollars ($200), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months and not less than 10 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1092, Sec. 299. Effective September 27, 1983. Operative January 1, 1984, by Sec. 427 of Ch. 1092.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 536a.

536a. It is hereby made the duty of every commission merchant, broker, factor, or consignee, to whom any property is consigned or entrusted for sale, to make, when accounting therefor or subsequently, upon the written demand of his principal or consignor, a true written statement setting forth the name and address of the person or persons to whom a sale of the said property, or any portion thereof, was made, the quantity so sold to each purchaser, and the respective prices obtained therefor; provided, however, that unless separate written demand shall be made as to each consignment or shipment regarding which said statement is desired, prior to sale, it shall be sufficient to set forth in said statement only so many of said matters above enumerated as said commission merchant, broker, factor, or consignee may be able to obtain from the books of account kept by him; and that said statement shall not be required in case of cash sales where the amount of the transaction is less than fifty dollars. Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Added by Stats. 1909, Ch. 706.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 537.

537. (a) Any person who obtains any food, fuel, services, or accommodations at a hotel, inn, restaurant, boardinghouse, lodginghouse, apartment house, bungalow court, motel, marina, marine facility, autocamp, ski area, or public or private campground, without paying therefor, with intent to defraud the proprietor or manager thereof, or who obtains credit at an hotel, inn, restaurant, boardinghouse, lodginghouse, apartment house, bungalow court, motel, marina, marine facility, autocamp, or public or private campground by the use of any false pretense, or who, after obtaining credit, food, fuel, services, or accommodations, at an hotel, inn, restaurant, boardinghouse, lodginghouse, apartment house, bungalow court, motel, marina, marine facility, autocamp, or public or private campground, absconds, or surreptitiously, or by force, menace, or threats, removes any part of his or her baggage therefrom with the intent not to pay for his or her food or accommodations is guilty of a public offense punishable as follows:
(1) If the value of the credit, food, fuel, services, or accommodations is nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) or less, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding six months, or both.
(2) If the value of the credit, food, fuel, services, or accommodations is greater than nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), by imprisonment in a county jail for a term of not more than one year, or in the state prison.
(b) Any person who uses or attempts to use ski area facilities for which payment is required without paying as required, or who resells a ski lift ticket to another when the resale is not authorized by the proprietor, is guilty of an infraction.
(c) Evidence that a person left the premises of such an hotel, inn, restaurant, boardinghouse, lodginghouse, apartment house, bungalow court, motel, marina, marine facility, autocamp, ski area, or public or private campground, without paying or offering to pay for such food, fuel, services, use of facilities, or accommodation, or that the person, without authorization from the proprietor, resold his or her ski lift ticket to another person after making use of such facilities, shall be prima facie evidence of the following:
(1) That the person obtained such food, fuel, services, use of facilities or accommodations with intent to defraud the proprietor or manager.
(2) That, if, after obtaining the credit, food, fuel, services, or accommodations, the person absconded, or surreptitiously, or by force, menace, or threats, removed part of his or her baggage therefrom, the person did so with the intent not to pay for the credit, food, fuel, services, or accommodations.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 3rd Ex. Sess., Ch. 28, Sec. 27. (SB 18 3x) Effective January 25, 2010.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 537b.

537b. Any person who obtains any livery hire or other accommodation at any livery or feed stable, kept for profit, in this state, without paying therefor, with intent to defraud the proprietor or manager thereof; or who obtains credit at any such livery or feed stable by the use of any false pretense; or who after obtaining a horse, vehicle, or other property at such livery or feed stable, willfully or maliciously abuses the same by beating, goading, overdriving or other willful or malicious conduct, or who after obtaining such horse, vehicle, or other property, shall, with intent to defraud the owner, manager or proprietor of such livery or feed stable, keep the same for a longer period, or take the same to a greater distance than contracted for; or allow a feed bill or other charges to accumulate against such property, without paying therefor; or abandon or leave the same, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Added by renumbering Section 537¾ by Stats. 1905, Ch. 523.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 537c.

537c. Every owner, manager, proprietor, or other person, having the management, charge or control of any livery stable, feed or boarding stable, and every person pasturing stock, who shall receive and take into his possession, charge, care or control, any horse, mare, or other animal, or any buggy, or other vehicle, belonging to any other person, to be by him kept, fed, or cared for, and who, while said horse, mare or other animal or buggy or other vehicle, is thus in his possession, charge, care or under his control, as aforesaid, shall drive, ride or use, or knowingly permit or allow any person other than the owner or other person entitled so to do, to drive, ride, or otherwise use the same, without the consent or permission of the owner thereof, or other person charged with the care, control or possession of such property, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Added by Stats. 1909, Ch. 178.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 537e.

537e. (a) Any person who knowingly buys, sells, receives, disposes of, conceals, or has in his or her possession any personal property from which the manufacturer’s serial number, identification number, electronic serial number, or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed, is guilty of a public offense, punishable as follows:
(1) If the value of the property does not exceed nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months.
(2) If the value of the property exceeds nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year.
(3) If the property is an integrated computer chip or panel of a value of nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) or more, by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for 16 months, or two or three years or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year.
(b) For purposes of this subdivision, “personal property” includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Any television, radio, recorder, phonograph, telephone, piano, or any other musical instrument or sound equipment.
(2) Any washing machine, sewing machine, vacuum cleaner, or other household appliance or furnishings.
(3) Any typewriter, adding machine, dictaphone, or any other office equipment or furnishings.
(4) Any computer, printed circuit, integrated chip or panel, or other part of a computer.
(5) Any tool or similar device, including any technical or scientific equipment.
(6) Any bicycle, exercise equipment, or any other entertainment or recreational equipment.
(7) Any electrical or mechanical equipment, contrivance, material, or piece of apparatus or equipment.
(8) Any clock, watch, watch case, or watch movement.
(9) Any vehicle or vessel, or any component part thereof.
(c) When property described in subdivision (a) comes into the custody of a peace officer it shall become subject to the provision of Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1407) of Title 10 of Part 2, relating to the disposal of stolen or embezzled property. Property subject to this section shall be considered stolen or embezzled property for the purposes of that chapter, and prior to being disposed of, shall have an identification mark imbedded or engraved in, or permanently affixed to it.
(d) This section does not apply to those cases or instances where any of the changes or alterations enumerated in subdivision (a) have been customarily made or done as an established practice in the ordinary and regular conduct of business, by the original manufacturer, or by his or her duly appointed direct representative, or under specific authorization from the original manufacturer.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 388. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 537f.

537f. No storage battery composed in whole or in part of a used container, or used plate or plates and intended for use in the starting, lighting or ignition of automobiles, shall be sold or offered for sale in this State unless: the word “Rebuilt” together with the rebuilder’s name and address is labeled on one side of the battery in letters not less than one-half inch in height with a one-eighth inch stroke.
Any person selling or offering for sale such a battery in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Added by Stats. 1933, Ch. 925.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 537g.

537g. (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, any person who knowingly removes, defaces, covers, alters or destroys a National Crime Information Center owner identification number from the personal property of another without permission is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed four hundred dollars ($400), imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or both.
(b) This section shall not apply to any action taken by an authorized person to dispose of property pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 2080) of Chapter 4 of Title 6 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code or pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1407) of Title 10 of Part 2 of this code.
(Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 878, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 538.

538. Every person, who, after mortgaging any of the property permitted to be mortgaged by the provisions of Sections 9102 and 9109 of the Commercial Code, excepting locomotives, engines, rolling stock of a railroad, steamboat machinery in actual use, and vessels, during the existence of the mortgage, with intent to defraud the mortgagee, his or her representative or assigns, takes, drives, carries away, or otherwise removes or permits the taking, driving, or carrying away, or other removal of the mortgaged property, or any part thereof, from the county where it was situated when mortgaged, without the written consent of the mortgagee, or who sells, transfers, slaughters, destroys, or in any manner further encumbers the mortgaged property, or any part thereof, or causes it to be sold, transferred, slaughtered, destroyed, or further encumbered, is guilty of theft, and is punishable accordingly. In the case of a sale, transfer, or further encumbrance at or before the time of making the sale, transfer, or encumbrance, the mortgagor informs the person to whom the sale, transfer, or encumbrance is made, of the existence of the prior mortgage, and also informs the prior mortgagee of the intended sale, transfer, or encumbrance, in writing, by giving the name and place of residence of the party to whom the sale, transfer, or encumbrance is to be made.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 54. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 75 of Ch. 991.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 538a.

538a. Every person who signs any letter addressed to a newspaper with the name of a person other than himself and sends such letter to the newspaper, or causes it to be sent to such newspaper, with intent to lead the newspaper to believe that such letter was written by the person whose name is signed thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Added by renumbering Section 480 (as added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1256) by Stats. 1972, Ch. 449.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 538b.

538b. Any person who wilfully wears the badge, lapel button, rosette, or any part of the garb, robe, habit, or any other recognized and established insignia or apparel of any secret society, or fraternal or religious order or organization, or of any sect, church or religious denomination, or uses the same to obtain aid or assistance within this State, with intent to deceive, unless entitled to wear and use the same under the constitution, by-laws or rules and regulations, or other laws or enactments of such society, order, organization, sect, church or religious denomination is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Amended by Stats. 1937, Ch. 255.)
2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 13 - OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY › CHAPTER 8 - False Personation and Cheats › Section 538c.

538c. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), any person who attaches or inserts an unauthorized advertisement in a newspaper, whether alone or in concert with another, and who redistributes it to the public or who has the intent to redistribute it to the public, is guilty of the crime of theft of advertising services which shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) “Unauthorized advertisement” means any form of representation or communication, including any handbill, newsletter, pamphlet, or notice that contains any letters, words, or pictorial representation that is attached to or inserted in a newspaper without a contractual agreement between the publisher and an advertiser.
(2) “Newspaper” includes any newspaper, magazine, periodical, or other tangible publication, whether offered for retail sale or distributed without charge.
(c) This section does not apply if the publisher or authorized distributor of the newspaper consents to the attachment or insertion of the advertisement.
(d) This section does not apply to a newspaper distributor who is directed to insert an unauthorized advertisement by a person or company supplying the newspapers, and who is not aware that the advertisement is unauthorized.
(e) A conviction under this section shall not constitute a conviction for petty theft.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1134, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)