California Penal Code

§ 490.7

PEN § 490.7 Effective Jan 1, 2007Title 13 · Part 1 · Ch. 5

Statute text

(a)The Legislature finds that free newspapers provide a key source of information to the public, in many cases providing an important alternative to the news and ideas expressed in other local media sources. The Legislature further finds that the unauthorized taking of multiple copies of free newspapers, whether done to sell them to recycling centers, to injure a business competitor, to deprive others of the opportunity to read them, or for any other reason, injures the rights of readers, writers, publishers, and advertisers, and impoverishes the marketplace of ideas in California.

(b)No person shall take more than twenty-five (25) copies of the current issue of a free or complimentary newspaper if done with the intent to do one or more of the following:

(1)Recycle the newspapers for cash or other payment.

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Legislative history

Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 228, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007.