California statute
Cal. Penal Code § 653z
Current through 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12)
Part of Chapter 2: Of Other and Miscellaneous Offenses, California Penal Code.
Full text of Cal. Penal Code § 653z
Statutory text current through the 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of California.
(a) Every person who operates a recording device in a motion picture theater while a motion picture is being exhibited, for the purpose of recording a theatrical motion picture and without the express written authority of the owner of the motion picture theater, is guilty of a public offense and shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. (b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Recording device” means a photographic, digital or video camera, or other audio or video recording device capable of recording the sounds and images of a motion picture or any portion of a motion picture. (2) “Motion picture theater” means a theater or other premises in which a motion picture is exhibited. (c) Nothing in this section shall preclude prosecution under any other provision of law.
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