Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
(a)Petty theft, where the value of the money, labor, real or personal property taken is of a value which does not exceed fifty dollars ($50), may be charged as a or an infraction, at the discretion of the prosecutor, provided that the person charged with the offense has no other theft or theft-related conviction.
(b) Any offense charged as an infraction under this section shall be subject to the provisions of subdivision (d) of Section 17 and Sections 19.6 and 19.7.
A violation which is an infraction under this section is punishable by a fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 638, Sec. 2.
Simplified explanation
Petty theft of $50 or less may be charged as a misdemeanor or, if the person has no other theft conviction, as an infraction punishable by a fine up to $250.