Emergencies: crimes.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific dates for when the provisions will take effect or expire, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Emergencies: Crimes

This law makes it a crime to impersonate emergency workers during emergencies and increases penalties for looting if the perpetrator pretends to be an emergency worker.

What This Bill Does

• Makes it illegal for someone who is not a first responder to wear or use items that look like those of a first responder in areas under evacuation orders, with intent to defraud others.
• Increases the punishment for people who loot during emergencies if they pretend to be emergency workers.
• Adds penalties for impersonating a first responder online or through electronic means during an evacuation order or within 30 days after it ends, with intent to defraud others.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who commit crimes during emergencies in California.
• Emergency workers and first responders whose identities might be falsely used by criminals.
• Courts dealing with looting cases where emergency impersonation is involved.

Terms To Know

Looting

Stealing or damaging property during a state of emergency or local emergency in an affected county.

First responder

A person who is the first to respond to emergencies, such as police officers, firefighters, and paramedics.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies if another bill (AB 468) also passes.
• It does not specify when it will take effect or how long it will last.

Official Summary Text

SB 571, Archuleta.
Emergencies: crimes.
Existing law defines looting as the commission of certain offenses during and within an affected county in a state of emergency or local emergency, as specified. Existing law includes any 2nd-degree burglary or grand theft in the definition of looting, and makes looting based on those offenses punishable by either imprisonment in a county jail for one year or as a felony.
This bill would authorize the court to consider the fact, if pled and proven, that the defendant committed the crime of looting while impersonating emergency personnel as a factor in aggravation.
Existing law prohibits credibly impersonating a peace officer, firefighter, or employee of a state or local government agency, or a search and rescue team, as specified. A violation of these prohibitions is punishable as a misdemeanor.
This bill would make it a crime, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony, for a person, other than a first responder to wear, exhibit, or use the uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card, or writing of a first responder with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a first responder within an area under an evacuation order, as specified. The bill would also make it a crime, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony, to impersonate a first responder on
the internet or by electronic means during an evacuation order or within 30 days of its termination for the purpose of defrauding another, as specified.
Existing law, until January 1, 2029, defines the offense of aggravated arson, and defines the aggravating factors for the offense as: the person has been previously convicted of arson on one or more occasions within the past 10 years, the fire caused property damage and other losses in excess of $10,100,000, or the fire caused damage to, or the destruction of, 5 or more inhabited dwellings. Existing law, commencing January 1, 2029, deletes the aggravating factor of property damage and other losses in excess of $10,100,000 from the definition of aggravated arson.
This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature that amendments to the above-described dollar amounts are to be applied prospectively and shall not be interpreted to benefit any defendant who
committed a crime or received a sentence before the effective date of the amendment.
By creating a new crime and by increasing the punishment of specified crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would make the operation of its provisions contingent upon the enactment of AB 468 of the 2025–26 Regular Session.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF