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California · Through 2026-09-13

PEN § 653z

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Penal Code - PEN
  2. PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS [25. - 680.4.]
  3. TITLE 15. MISCELLANEOUS CRIMES [626. - 653.75.]
  4. CHAPTER 2. Of Other and Miscellaneous Offenses [639. - 653.2.]

(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.

Collected 2026-09-14T05:56:33Z. Source file · JSON

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