Codes and Definitions Training for Explorer Program
Rohnert Park Explorer Training Program
Department of Public Safety
Codes/Definitions
These codes consist of the Penal Code, Vehicle Code, Welfare and Institution Code,
Business and Profession Code and Health and Safety Code and Municipal Codes. It is
important to understand the basic elements that make up the crime. Knowledge of these
codes is important when communicating with officers and other agencies, interpreting
criminal warrants, interrogating a caller and classification of calls for service.
Penal Code (PC)
Crimes as defined in the California Penal Code most often come to the attention of law
enforcement. The California Penal Code (PC) contains the majority of the statutes that
are enforced by Peace Officers. It also contains laws that establish Peace Officer's
powers, jurisdiction, and training. However, there are several other California codes that
contain sections enforced by Police Officers.
Vehicle Code(VC)
This is a body of laws that regulate vehicular traffic within the State of California.
Health & Safety Code (H&S)
This is a body of laws that regulate food and drugs (including controlled substances). As
a dispatcher you will most likely use this when referring to illicit drugs.
Business & Professions Code (B&P)
These are regulations and ethics of the business profession regarding truth in
advertising, marketing, and controlling the sale of certain substances. They also contain
statutes concerning the sales of alcoholic beverages.
Welfare & Institutions Code (W&I) or (WIC)
This is the body of regulations regarding the treatment of children or others that are
unable to care for themselves. All juvenile criminal affairs are directed by this authority.
Included in the WIC are statutes regarding child neglect, incorrigibility, and delinquency.
Administration Code
This contains miscellaneous sections that include Fish & Game, Harbor and Navigation,
and other regulations.
Municipal Code
This body of regulations has been enacted by the City Council to regulate the actions of
the persons within a given City boundary which are not already covered by any other
code.
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Penal Codes
Code Definition
Resisting Arrest – resists, delays, or obstructs a public officer
148 PC
False ID to Peace Officer – falsely represents or identifies self to peace
148.9 PC
officer
Violation/Disobeying a Court Order
166.4 PC
Murder – Unlawful killing of another human being
187 PC
Kidnapping – Forcibly stealing, taking, holds, detains, or arrests in this
207 PC
state and transports into another part of the same county, another county,
state or country.
Robbery – Taking of personal property from another person against his
211 PC
will by means of force or fear.
Carjacking – felonious taking of a motor vehicle in the possession of
215 PC
another, from his/her person, by means of force or fear
Battery Defined – a willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon
242 PC
another (a completed assault)
Domestic Battery – when a battery is committed against a spouse, or a
243E1 PC
person with whom the defendant is cohabiting, a person who is the parent
of defendant’s child, former spouse, fiancé, or fiancée or person with
whom the defendant currently has, or has previously had, a dating or
engagement relationship, the battery is punishable by a fine not exceeding
$2,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not more than
one year.
Sexual Battery – touching an intimate part of another, while the person is
243.4 PC
unlawfully restrained, against the will of the person touched, for the
purpose of sexual arousal
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Assault with a Deadly Weapon – assault upon the person of another with
245 PC
a deadly weapon or by a means of force likely to produce great bodily
injury
Shooting into an Inhabited Dwelling or Occupied Building – any person
246 PC
who maliciously and willfully discharges a firearm at an inhabited dwelling,
occupied building, occupied motor vehicle, inhabited house car, is guilty of
a felony.
Rape – the act of sexual intercourse accomplished against another
261 PC
person’s will
Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with Person Under 18 (aka Statutory Rape) –
261.5 PC
an act of sexual intercourse with a person who is under 18 years of age
and not the spouse of the perpetrator.
Child Neglect – failure of a parent to provide necessary clothing, food,
270 PC
shelter, or medical care for a minor child.
Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor – commit any act which would
272 PC
cause a person under the age of 18 to come within the provisions of
sections 300, 601 or 602 W&I
Child Abuse – endangering the life or health of a child, whether mental or
273A PC
physical
Spousal Battery – any person who willfully inflicts injury by physical force
273.5 PC
upon his or her spouse, or upon any person with whom they cohabit, or is
the mother or father of their child, whether that injury is minor or serious in
nature.
Child Abduction – person with right to custody, maliciously taking,
277 PC
detaining, or enticing away with intent to permanently deprive
Sodomy – Sexual conduct consisting of contact between the penis or one
286 PC
person and the anus of another.
Child Molest – lewd and lascivious act against the body of a child under 14
288 PC
years old
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Oral Copulation – any person who participates in an act of oral copulation
288A PC
with another person who is under 18 years of age
Sex Offender Registration Act – requirement of mandatory registration in a
290 PC
certain number of days with the Police Department or the Sheriff’s Office
where they live or move to
Indecent Exposure – willfully and lewdly exposes his or her private parts in
314 PC
a public place with intent to arouse or annoy
Public Nuisance – habitual noise or obstruction that is offensive to the
370 PC
senses
Litter – Willfully throwing or dropping of waste matter upon land or water
374 PC
Disturbance of the Peace – any person who maliciously and willfully
415 PC
disturbs a person by loud and unreasonable noise; any person who
unlawfully fights in a public place; any person who uses offensive words
(fighting words) in public that are inherently likely to provoke a violent
reaction
Brandishing – any person who draws or exhibits a firearm or other deadly
417 PC
device in a rude or threatening manner
Criminal Threats – any person who willfully threatens to commit a crime
422 PC
which will result in death or great bodily injury, with the specific intent that
the statement is to be taken as a threat, even if there is no intent of
actually carrying it out, and thereby causes that person to be in sustained
fear for his or her own safety or for his or her immediate family’s safety
Arson – any person who maliciously and willfully sets fire to property other
451 PC
than their own
Burglary – any person who enters a room, dwelling, vehicle, etc. with
459 PC
intent to commit theft or other felony
Forgery – any person with intent to defraud, signs the name of another, or
470 PC
alters a document with intent to defraud
Fraud by Access Card – any person with intent to defraud, uses an access
484G PC
card to purchase goods or services
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Grand Theft – theft where the value exceeds $950.00, taken from another
487 PC
with the absence of force or fear, theft of a vehicle, theft of a firearm
regardless of value.
Petty Theft – theft where the value is $950.00 or less
488 PC
Receiving Stolen Property – receiving property obtained by theft or
496 PC
extortion
Embezzlement – fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom
503 PC
it was entrusted
Identity Theft – unauthorized use of personal identifying information of
530.5
another person. That information is used to unlawfully obtain or attempt to
obtain credit, goods, services, real property, or medical information
Defrauding an Innkeeper – any person who obtains food or services
537 PC
without paying
Vandalism – any person who maliciously damages or destroys another’s
594 PC
property
Cruelty to Animals – any person who maliciously maims, wounds, or kills
597 PC
an animal
Trespass – entering someone else’s property without permission, or with
602 PC
the intent to interfere with the business activities or entering with the intent
to damage that property or refusing to leave the property after being asked
to
Disorderly Conduct – Prostitution – anyone who solicits or engages in any
647B PC
act of prostitution
Disorderly Conduct – Panhandling – anyone who loiters about a public
647C PC
place for the purposes of begging or soliciting money
Disorderly Conduct – Drunk in Public – anyone who is found in a public
647F PC
place under the influence of alcohol
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Possession of a Switchblade Knife – every person who possesses on his
653K PC
person a switchblade knife over two inches
Telephone Harass – telephone calls made with the intent to harass and
653M PC
annoy
Failure to Appear – willfully violated a written promise to appear in court
853.7 PC
Possession of Unlawful Weapon – any person who possesses any cane
12020 PC
gun or any firearm which is not immediately recognizable as a firearm
Possession of Firearm by a Felon – any person who has been convicted
12021 PC
of a felony, or who is addicted to the use of any narcotic drug who owns or
has in his or her possession any firearm is guilty of a felony.
Possession of a Concealed Weapon – concealed firearm carried on the
12025 PC
person or in his immediate presence
B & P Codes
Code Definition
Possession of Hypodermic Needle
4140 BP
Minor in Possession of Alcohol – any minor in possession of alcoholic
25662 BP
beverage
H & S Codes
Code Definition
Possession of Narcotic Controlled Substance – any person who carries in
11350 H&S
his possession any controlled substance is guilty of a felony
Transport/Sell Narcotic Controlled Substance -
11352 H&S
Possession of Concentrated Cannabis -
11357 H&S
Planting, Harvesting, or Processing Marijuana/Hashish
11358 H&S
Possess Marijuana/Hashish For Sale
11359 H&S
Possession of Dangerous Drugs – any person who carries specific
11377 H&S
dangerous drugs
Under the Influence of Controlled Substance –
11550 H&S
Drug Registrant
11590 H&S
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W & I Codes
Code Definition
Dependent Child – child in need or proper parental control
300 W&I
Uncontrollable Juvenile – any person under the age of 18 years who
601 W&I
consistently refuses to obey the reasonable orders or direction of their
parents or legal custodians
Juvenile Offender – juvenile who commits crimes
602 W&I
Mental Commit – any person who as a result of a mental disorder is a
5150 W&I
danger to himself or others
Vehicle Codes
Code Definition
Flight From Pursuing Peace Officer – any person who while operating a
2800 VC
motor vehicle and with the intent to evade willfully flees or otherwise
attempts to elude a pursuing peace officer
Expired Vehicle Registration – any person who drives or parks a vehicle
4000A VC
upon a public roadway without current registration
Vehicle Theft – any person who drives or takes a vehicle belonging to
10851 VC
another, with or without intent to permanently or temporarily deprive
Vehicle Tampering – no person shall willfully injure or temper with any
10852 VC
vehicle or the contents thereof or break or remove any part of a vehicle
without the consent of the owner
Embezzlement of Vehicle – any person who has leased or rented a vehicle
10855 VC
willfully and intentionally fails to return the vehicle to its owner within five
days after the lease or rental agreement has expired.
Unlicensed Driver – no person shall at any time drive a motor vehicle upon
12500A VC
the public roadways without a valid driver’s license
Suspended or Revoked License – no person shall drive a motor vehicle at
14601 VC
any time when their driving privilege has been suspended or revoked
Felony Hit and Run – the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident
20001 VC
resulting in an injury of any person other than himself has the duty to stop
at the scene of the accident
Misdemeanor Hit and Run – the driver of any vehicle involved in an
20002 VC
accident where there is property damage has the duty to stop at the scene
of that accident
Basic Speed Law – no person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a
22350 VC
speed greater than is reasonably prudent
Authority to Tow Vehicle
22651 VC
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A: left on bridge or causeway obstructing traffic
B: unattended on a roadway obstructing traffic
C: previously stolen or embezzled
D: parked blocking a driveway
E: parked blocking a fire hydrant
F: parked over 4 hours on freeway
G: parked and driver incapacitated and unable to operate vehicle
H: driver arrested
I: parked without current registration and received more than 5 parking
cites
J: illegally parked with no plates or registration displayed
K: parked over 72 hours
L: parked blocking cleaning, repair or construction of highway (after
posted)
M: parked blocking street used for other than normal flow of traffic
N: parked in violation of local ordinance when previously posted
O: registration expired for six months and one day
P: driver cited for being unlicensed or suspended or revoked
Authority to Tow from Private Property
22658 VC
Reckless Driving – any person who drives a vehicle upon a highway in a
23103 VC
willful or wanton manner
Throwing Substances at Moving Vehicles – any person who throws any
23110 VC
substance at a moving vehicle or occupant
Driving Under the Influence – it is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle under
23152 VC
the influence of any drug that alters one’s ability to operate the vehicle
Felony Driving Under the Influence – driving a motor vehicle under the
23153 VC
influence of any drug and causing injury to another
Municipal Codes
Code Definition
Parked, Private Property (Commercial) abandoned Vehicle
8.16.150
Construction work/equipment noise prohibited 1800 to 0800 hours
9.44.120
Discharging a firearm within city limits
9.88.010
Use of streets for storage of vehicles
10.40.050
Parking for demonstration
10.40.060
Permit parking area, no valid permit displayed (M section)
10.50.080
Water waste
13.04.030
Storage of vehicle on private property
17.08.110
Terminology Definitions
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Code or Term Definition
Persons convicted of certain types of sex and
290 PC/11590 H&S
narcotic crimes are required to report their
Registrants
whereabouts even after release from prison or
jail. Registration requirement means that the
subject must register (fingerprinted and
photographed) with the agency within whose
jurisdiction they resides. They must also notify
that agency anytime they change address, and if
they move to another jurisdiction, they must "Re-
Register" with the new law enforcement agency.
A teletype copy of an original warrant - sufficient
Abstract
for arrest.
See 245 PC
ADW (245 PC)
An order signed by a judge to arrest a named
Arrest Warrant
person.
See 240 PC
Assault (240 PC)
See 242 PC
Battery (242 PC)
Driving with no lights
Blacked Out
See 459PC
Burglary (459 PC)
Usually involved injury to a child
Child Abuse
Usually involves lack of providing for child welfare
Child Neglect
Keeping custodial parent from the child
Child Stealing
An arrest made by a citizen who witnessed a
Citizen Arrest (837 PC)
misdemeanor crime
An arbitration having to do with individual private
Civil Matter
rights that are not governed by criminal law
Drunk driver
Deuce
Disposition
Dispo
See 503 PC
Embezzled (503 PC)
Any material that is secured at the scene of a
Evidence
crime or subsequent investigation that is
impounded by a law enforcement agency to
assist in presenting a case for prosecution
Failure to appears upon signature promise to
FTA
appear
Failure to pay fine as promised
FTP
A crime punishable by imprisonment in a state
Felony
prison
Terminology required in fire reports. Means the
Fire Under Control
fire is under control.
See 470 PC
Forgery (470 PC)
Fraud is the taking of an individuals’ property
Fraud
through trickery, deceit, or other covert ways. To
be determined as a crime, the intention must be
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determined to be the “depriving” of the victim or
his property
A traffic collision where at least one driver leaves
Hit & Run
the scene without attempting contact with the
other vehicle or the police
See 187 PC
Homicide (187 PC)
Placing a vehicle/property in a secure location
Impound
under the control of the law enforcement agency.
Property impounded may only be recovered by
the party from which it was removed by obtaining
a release from the law enforcement agency that
removed it or an order from a court of jurisdiction
A vehicle towed for investigation of a crime (only
Impounded Vehicle
released after police authorization)
See appropriate section under the Arrest
In-Custody Package
Package Guidelines Matrix – can be a DL,
Criminal History, etc.
Unit pursuing a vehicle failing to yield for “red
In Pursuit
lights and sirens”
A minor violation punishable by fine only.
Infraction
Interfering is another person attempted to
Interfering
interfere or resist the arrest in behalf of someone
else.
A minor under the age of 18
Juvenile
See 207 PC
Kidnap
Via telephone
Land wire/ Landline
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 20 as relates
Minor
to alcohol violations
th
4 Amendment rights pertaining to criminal
Miranda
questioning
A crime punishable by fine and/or imprisonment
Misdemeanor
in county jail
See 187 PC
Murder
Aid of another public agency
Mutual Aid
Own Recognizance, released on a promise to re-
O.R.
appear
See “In-Custody Package”
Package
A period of time after a person is released from
Parole
state custody, who must abide by the directives of
a parole order
The use of the “Person” mask in CLETS to check
Person Check
a person for driver’s license status and
wants/warrants
Prior record of arrest for the same offense
Priors
Reasonable cause based on fact that a person
Probable Cause
has committed a crime
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A hold or warrant type order usually ordering a
Probation Want
juvenile detained for juvenile authorities.
An arrest warrant issued by a judge or magistrate
Ramey Warrant
before the prosecutor has filed formal charges.
A criminal history summary generated by the
Rap Sheet/ Criminal History
Department of Justice with contributions from all
law enforcement agencies and courts that
indicate the criminal records of any individual who
has been arrested for a “retainable offense”
See 148 PC – Resisting arrest is any attempt to
Resisting
prevent the arrest or placing in custody of a
person.
Action taken by the DMV to end a driving
Revoked License
privilege.
Registered owner of a vehicle
R/O
See 211 PC
Robbery
An order signed by a judge to search a location,
Search Warrant
person, or item.
Window jimmy or door locking device
Slim Jim
The distinction between something that is stolen
Stolen
in contrast to being embezzled is determined by
the manner in which the crime is accomplished.
Stolen is the removal of property without the
permission of the owner to permanently or
temporarily deprive him of the vehicle
Placing in a safe location, usually for safekeeping
Stored
A vehicle towed as abandoned, traffic hazard,
Stored Vehicle
driver arrested or injured, etc. (Can be released to
R/O with proof of ownership.)
An order demanding the presence of someone in
Subpoena
a court or law. A legal document issued that
mandates the individual served with a subpoena
to attend the court on the date and time indicated.
Failure to comply with this legal order can result
in a “contempt of court” finding. Criminal
subpoenas are usually served by the Marshal’s
Office or a law enforcement agency that serves
the court. Civil subpoenas may be served by
Marshals, attorneys, or, in some cases, one of the
parties of the court action. To be valid, a
subpoena must be served on the individual in
person, or, in our case, accepted by an
authorized agent, and the person serving must
indicate who was served, the date and time, and
return the court copy of the subpoena to the court
clerk.
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Action taken by the DMV to withhold driving
Suspended License (14601 VC)
privileges for a period of time pending violation
litigation
Theft is the unlawful taking of property. Generally
Theft
speaking, if the value is under $950, it is petty
theft (488 PC), and over $950 in value, it is grand
theft (487 PC). However, there are many
exceptions to the general rule.
County map book (no longer used or published)
Thomas Brothers
A write or order signed by a judge to order
Warrant
something to be done. A warrant is a legal order
signed by a judge that authorizes any law
enforcement officer who contacts the subject
named in the warrant to place him under arrest or
detain him for the charges specified in the warrant
until the warrant conditions are met.
An officer may attempt to serve the individual only
Warrant - Day Services Only
during normal day-time hours at this home or
place of business (0600-2200 hours). ***This
condition does not affect a situation where the
individual has been stopped on the street or other
public place.
The officer must assign the individual an actual
Warrant – Mandatory
appearance date even if the subject pays bail.
Appearance
The officer also has the option, if he feels the
subject will not appear, to book in county jail
Once the bail has been received by the court, the
Warrant – Bail May Be Forfeited
warrant will be recalled and the case closed. No
further action will result.
Since it is not possible to transmit an official court
Warrant Abstract
order with any speed via the mails, the computer
has been used for this purpose. No individual
may be arrested on a warrant unless the officer
has the specific document in his possession*
Since a computerized warrant is acceptable, this
warrant summary is called a “warrant abstract” or
simply and “abstract”. To be a valid arrest
abstract, it must contain all of the pertinent
information on the original warrant.
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