California Penal Code

§ 496e

PEN § 496e Effective Jan 1, 2026Title 13 · Part 1 · Ch. 5

Statute text

(a)Any person who is engaged in the salvage, recycling, purchase, or sale of scrap metal and who possesses any of the following items that were owned or previously owned by any public agency, city, county, city and county, special district, or private utility that have been stolen or obtained in any manner constituting theft or extortion, knowing the property to be so stolen or obtained, or fails to report possession of the items pursuant to Section 21609.1 of the Business and Professions Code, is guilty of a crime:

(1)A fire hydrant or any reasonably recognizable part of that hydrant.

(2)Any fire department connection, including, but not limited to, reasonably recognizable bronze or brass fittings and parts.

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 694, Sec. 4. (AB 476) Effective January 1, 2026.