CaliforniaSignal jammers.
What it does
Federal law prohibits a person from willfully or maliciously interfering with or causing interference to radio communications. Federal law prohibits a person from manufacturing, importing, selling, offering for sale, or shipping a device that interferes with radio communications. Federal law makes a violation of these prohibitions punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both the fine and imprisonment.
More detail
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to intercept a public safety radio service communication for the purpose of using the communication to assist in the commission of a criminal offense or to avoid arrest, as specified. Existing law makes it an infraction to possess or equip a vehicle with a device that is capable of interfering with a device used by a law enforcement agency to measure the speed of moving objects, as specified, and makes it a misdemeanor to possess four or more of those devices.
This bill would make it a crime to manufacture, import, market, purchase, sell, or operate a signal jammer, as defined, unless authorized to do so by the Federal Communications Commission, punishable as an infraction for a first offense, and a misdemeanor for a 2nd offense, as specified. The bill would make it a misdemeanor to operate a signal jammer in conjunction with the commission of a misdemeanor or felony, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or by imprisonment. The bill would make it a crime to willfully or maliciously use a signal jammer to block state or local public safety communications, if the person knows or should know that using the signal jammer is likely to result in death or great bodily injury and great bodily injury or death is sustained by any person as a result of that use, punishable as either a misdemeanor or a felony. The bill would require forfeiture of the signal jamming device upon conviction for these crimes. By creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 7Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 458, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 7Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 17Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 9Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2719.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB701 Wahab et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 8In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 701 Wahab Senate Third Reading By Alanis. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 8Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 2996.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Sep 2Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 29From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 16July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Jul 3Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 16Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Jun 5In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Jun 4Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1511.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB701 Wahab et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1210.) (May 23).Minor
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- Apr 28April 28 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 17Set for hearing April 28.
- Apr 9Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 8From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 709.) (April 8).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 27Set for hearing April 8.
- Mar 24From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Major
- Mar 12Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Feb 24Read first time.Minor
- Feb 24From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
- Feb 21Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced