Increases penalties for disrupting sporting events

Existing law makes it an infraction to throw an object on or across the court or field of play with the intent to interfere with play or distract a player or to enter upon the court or field of play without permission from an authorized person any time after the authorized participants of play have entered the court or field to begin the sporting event and until the participants of play have completed the playing time of the sporting event.

This bill would make the above crime an infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed 10 days, by a fine not exceeding $2,500, or by both that fine and imprisonment. The bill would make a 2nd or subsequent violation within 5 years of a prior violation of that prohibition a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 60 days, by a fine not exceeding $5,000, or by both that fine and imprisonment. By increasing the punishment for a crime, 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.