California · Penal Code

PEN §337d: Any person who gives, offers to give, promises to give, or attempts to give, any money, bribe, or thing of value to any person who is umpiring, managing, directing, refereeing, supervising, judging, p

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

It is a felony to offer money or bribes to sports officials with intent to influence their decisions in sporting events. A second offense carries increased penalties.

Read the full statutory text
Any person who gives, offers to give, promises to give, or attempts to give, any money, bribe, or thing of value to any person who is umpiring, managing, directing, refereeing, supervising, judging, presiding, or officiating at, or who is about to umpire, manage, direct, referee, supervise, judge, preside, or officiate at any sporting event, contest, or exhibition of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, sporting events, contests, and exhibitions such as baseball, football, boxing, horse racing, and wrestling matches, with the intention or agreement or understanding that the person shall corruptly or dishonestly umpire, manage, direct, referee, supervise, judge, preside, or officiate at, any sporting event, contest, or exhibition, or the players or participants thereof, with the intention or purpose that the result of the sporting event, contest, or exhibition will be affected or influenced thereby, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment and fine. A second offense of this section is a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 or by a fine of not more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

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.