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HomePenal CodeResisting Executive OfficersPt. 1§ 69 Resisting Executive Officers

§ 69 Resisting Executive Officers

Penal Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 69 Resisting Executive Officers

This law says you can't threaten or use violence to stop a government officer from doing their job. It also says recording or taking pictures of them in public is allowed.

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't use threats or violence to stop a government officer from doing their job.
  • •Recording or taking pictures of an officer in public is not a crime by itself.
  • •Breaking this law can lead to big fines or jail time.

Example

A police officer is trying to arrest someone for stealing, and a bystander tries to punch the officer to stop the arrest.

The bystander could be arrested and fined up to $10,000 or go to jail for trying to stop the officer from doing their job.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 69 Resisting Executive Officers

PENAL CODE - PEN PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS [25 - 680.4] ( Part 1 enacted 1872. ) TITLE 5. OF CRIMES BY AND AGAINST THE EXECUTIVE POWER OF THE STATE [67 - 77] ( Title 5 enacted 1872. ) 69. (a) Every person who attempts, by means of any threat or violence, to deter or prevent an executive officer from performing any duty imposed upon the officer by law, or who knowingly resists, by the use of force or violence, the officer, in the performance of his or her duty, is punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (b) The fact that a person takes a photograph or makes an audio or video recording of an executive officer, while the officer is in a public place or the person taking the photograph or making the recording is in a place he or she has the right to be, does not constitute, in and of itself, a violation of subdivision (a). (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 177, Sec. 1. (SB 411) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

executive officerthreat or violenceduty imposed by lawfine not exceeding ten thousand dollarsimprisonmentphotograph or audio or video recording

Related Statutes

  • § 67 Bribing Executive Officers
  • § 17 Felony And Misdemeanor Classification
  • § 18 Felony Sentencing Guidelines
  • § 261.5 Statutory Rape Age Rules
  • § 264 Rape Penalties And Fines

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Penal Code. Section 69.
View Official Source