California § 1798.79 - Except as provided in this section, a person or entity that intentionally remotel
Full text of California Public Contract Code - PCC § 1798.79 — Except as provided in this section, a person or entity that intentionally remotel, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 1798.79. Except as provided in this section, a person or entity that intentionally remotel
(a) Except as provided in this section, a person or entity that intentionally remotely reads or attempts to remotely read a personâs identification document using radio frequency identification (RFID), for the purpose of reading that personâs identification document without that personâs knowledge and prior consent, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year, a fine of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or both that fine and imprisonment. (b) A person or entity that knowingly discloses, or causes to be disclosed, the operational system keys used in a contactless identification document system shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year, a fine of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or both that fine and imprisonment. (c) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to: (1) The reading of a personâs identification document for triage or medical care during a disaster and immediate hospitalization or immediate outpatient care directly related to a disaster, as defined by the local emergency medical services agency organized under Section 1797.200 of the Health and Safety Code. (2) The reading of a personâs identification document by a health care professional for reasons relating to the health or safety of that person or an identification document issued to a patient by emergency services. (3) The reading of an identification document of a person who is incarcerated in the state prison or a county jail, detained in a juvenile facility operated by the Division of Juvenile Facilities in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or housed in a mental health facility, pursuant to a court order after having been charged with a crime, or to a person pursuant to a court-ordered electronic monitoring. (4) Law enforcement or government personnel who need to read a lost identification document when the owner is unavailable for notice, knowledge, or consent, or those parties specifically authorized by law enforcement or government personnel for the limited purpose of reading a lost identification document when the owner is unavailable for notice, knowledge, or consent. (5) Law enforcement personnel who need to read a personâs identification document after an accident in which the person is unavailable for notice, knowledge, or consent. (6) Law enforcement personnel who need to read a personâs identification document pursuant to a search warrant. (d) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to a person or entity that unintentionally remotely reads a personâs identification document using RFID in the course of operating a contactless identification document system unless it knows it unintentionally read the document and thereafter intentionally does any of the following acts: (1) Discloses what it read to a third party whose purpose is to read a personâs identification document, or any information derived therefrom, without that personâs knowledge and consent. (2) Stores what it read for the purpose of reading a personâs identification document, or any information derived therefrom, without that personâs knowledge and prior consent. (3) Uses what it read for the purpose of reading a personâs identification document, or any information derived therefrom, without that personâs knowledge and prior consent. (e) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not apply to the reading, storage, use, or disclosure to a third party of a personâs identification document, or information derived therefrom, in the course of an act of good faith security research, experimentation, or scientific inquiry, including, but not limited to, activities useful in identifying and analyzing security flaws and vulnerabilities. (f) Nothing in this section shall affect the existing rights of law enforcement to access data stored electronically on driverâs licenses. (g) The penalties set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b) are independent of, and do not supersede, any other penalties provided by state law, and in the case of any conflict, the greater penalties shall apply.
Source: official California text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About California § 1798.79
What does Public Contract Code - PCC § 1798.79 cover?
Section 1798.79 ("Except as provided in this section, a person or entity that intentionally remotel") is part of the Public Contract Code - PCC, the codified statutory law of California. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite California § 1798.79?
A common citation format is "Public Contract Code - PCC § 1798.79" (California). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of California law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the California official source linked on this page or consult a licensed California attorney.
How does California § 1798.79 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in California can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in California.