California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §11286: (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make, issue, publish, deliver, or transfer as true and genuine any public report that is forged, altered, false, or counterfeit, knowing it to be forged, alt

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to knowingly make, issue, publish, or deliver forged, altered, false, or counterfeit public reports as genuine, or to participate in doing so.

Read the full statutory text
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make, issue, publish, deliver, or transfer as true and genuine any public report that is forged, altered, false, or counterfeit, knowing it to be forged, altered, false, or counterfeit or to cause to be made or participate in the making, issuance, delivery, transfer, or publication of a public report with knowledge that it is forged, altered, false, or counterfeit. (b) Any person who violates subdivision (a) is guilty of a public offense punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both the fine and imprisonment. (c) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive penalty, and does not affect any other penalty, relief, or remedy provided by law.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.