California Penal Code § 551 PC prohibits unlawful referrals (for kickbacks) to an auto repair dealer. This offense can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony, and carries a maximum sentence of up to 3 years in jail or prison.
Examples
- Mike owns a car repair shop and offers an insurance agent $200 for every car owner he refers to his business.
- Doug owns an auto body shop and tells a customer that he will pay his insurance deductible if the customer gets work done at the shop.
- Santiago works at an automotive repair shop and tells an insurance adjuster he will pay him $50 for every car repair project he brings to the business.
There are several legal defenses that you can raise. These include showing that you:
- gave a gift to an adjuster and not a payment;
- acted without knowledge; and/or,
- were entrapped.
Penalties
If the amount at issue is greater than $950, the offense is a wobbler offense. This means it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
If the amount at issue is less than $950, the offense is charged as a misdemeanor.
As either a misdemeanor or a felony, this crime is punishable by:
- imprisonment in the county jail; and/or,
- a significant fine.
Our California criminal defense attorneys will highlight the following in this article:
- 1. When is it illegal to make a referral to an auto repair dealer?
- 2. What are the common defenses to a Penal Code 551 PC charge?
- 3. What is the potential jail time?
- 4. Are there related crimes I could be charged with?
Penal Code 551 is the California statute that prohibits the unlawful referral to an auto repair dealer.
1. When is it illegal to make a referral to an auto repair dealer?
Penal Code 551 is the California statute that makes it a crime for an auto repair dealer (or any of its employees) to:
- offer an insurance agent a fee or commission for referring an insured to the dealer for vehicle repairs covered under an insurance policy; or,
- knowingly offer a potential customer a discount to offset a deductible on the customer’s insurance policy.1
2. What are the common defenses to a Penal Code 551 PC charge?
You can challenge the accusation by raising a legal defense.
Three common defenses are:
- The referral was a gift.
- You had no knowledge you were offering a discount to serve as an offset.
- You were entrapped.
2.1. The referral was a gift.
The law only prohibits you from offering a fee or a commission for a referral. It is not a crime, for example, if you give a one-time gift to an agent (for some reasonable grounds – as in a holiday gift).
2.2. You had no knowledge you were offering a discount to serve as an offset.
Regarding offsetting a deductible, you are guilty under this statute only if you knowingly offer a discount to work as an offset. Therefore, you cannot be guilty of a crime if you did not know you were offering a discount to serve as an offset.
2.3. You were entrapped.
In many PC 551 cases, suspects are often arrested and accused after an undercover sting operation. Sometimes in these operations, an officer lures you into committing a crime.
This luring is entrapment and it is an acceptable legal defense provided that you show you committed the crime only because of the entrapment.
A violation of this law can result in a fine and/or jail time.
3. What is the potential jail time?
If the amount at issue is greater than $950, a violation of PC 551 is a wobbler offense. This means it can be either a misdemeanor or a felony. A possible sentence could include:
- imprisonment in the county jail for up to three years; and/or,
- a maximum fine of $10,000.2
If the amount at issue is less than $950, a PC 551 violation is a misdemeanor. The crime is punishable by:
- imprisonment in the county jail for up to six months; and/or,
- a maximum fine of $1,000.3
4. Are there related crimes I could be charged with?
There are three crimes related to the unlawful referral to an auto repair dealer. These are:
- commercial bribery – PC 641.3;
- auto insurance fraud – PC 548, PC 549, PC 550; and,
- false report of vehicle theft – PC 10501.
4.1. Commercial bribery – PC 641.3
Commercial bribery is a crime per Penal Code 641.3.
This is essentially when you commit the crime of bribery in a business setting.4
The penalty for commercial bribery depends on the amount of the bribe. It can be either a misdemeanor or a felony and can include a sentence of:
- a maximum jail term of three years; and/or,
- a substantial fine.5
4.2. Auto insurance fraud – PC 548-551
Auto insurance fraud is a crime under California law in Penal Code 548-551.
Automobile insurance fraud refers to any incidence of California criminal fraud that involves car insurance.6
Most forms of auto insurance fraud are felonies. The penalties can include:
- imprisonment for up to five years; and/or,
- a $50,000 fine.7
4.3. False report of vehicle theft – PC 10501
Per Penal Code 10501 PC it is a crime to make a false report of vehicle theft.
For a first offense, making a false report of auto theft is a misdemeanor in California law.8
The potential penalties for falsely reporting a vehicle theft are:
- misdemeanor (summary) probation;
- up to six months in county jail; and/or,
- a fine of up to $1,000.9
Legal References:
- California Penal Code 551 PC. This code section states:
551. (a) It is unlawful for any automotive repair dealer, contractor, or employees or agents thereof to offer to any insurance agent, broker, or adjuster any fee, commission, profit sharing, or other form of direct or indirect consideration for referring an insured to an automotive repair dealer or its employees or agents for vehicle repairs covered under a policyholder’s automobile physical damage or automobile collision coverage, or to a contractor or its employees or agents for repairs to or replacement of a structure covered by a residential or commercial insurance policy.(b) Except in cases in which the amount of the repair or replacement claim has been determined by the insurer and the repair or replacement services are performed in accordance with that determination or in accordance with provided estimates that are accepted by the insurer, it is unlawful for any automotive repair dealer, contractor, or employees or agents thereof to knowingly offer or give any discount intended to offset a deductible required by a policy of insurance covering repairs to or replacement of a motor vehicle or residential or commercial structure. This subdivision does not prohibit an advertisement for repair or replacement services at a discount as long as the amount of the repair or replacement claim has been determined by the insurer and the repair or replacement services are performed in accordance with that determination or in accordance with provided estimates that are accepted by the insurer.
(c) A violation of this section is a public offense. Where the amount at issue exceeds nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), the offense is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for 16 months, or two or three years, by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine; or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine. In all other cases, the offense is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed six months, by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.
(d) Every person who, having been convicted of subdivision (a) or (b), or Section 7027.3 or former Section 9884.75 of the Business and Professions Code and having served a term therefor in any penal institution or having been imprisoned therein as a condition of probation for that offense, is subsequently convicted of subdivision (a) or (b), upon a subsequent conviction of one of those offenses, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for 16 months, or two or three years, by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine; or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.
(e) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Automotive repair dealer” means a person who, for compensation, engages in the business of repairing or diagnosing malfunctions of motor vehicles.
(2) “Contractor” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 7026 of the Business and Professions Code.
- California Penal Code 551(c) PC.
- See same.
- California Penal Code 641.3 PC.
- See same.
- California Penal Code 548-551 PC.
- See same.
- California Vehicle Code 40000.9 VC.
- California Penal Code 19 PC.