California Penal Code 648 PC prohibits making or issuing money except as authorized by U.S. law. A first offense is a misdemeanor, but any subsequent convictions are prosecuted as felonies.
The full text of the statute reads as follows:
PC 648 Every person who makes, issues, or puts in circulation any bill, check, ticket, certificate, promissory note, or the paper of any bank, to circulate as money, except as authorized by the laws of the United States, for the first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and for each and every subsequent offense, is guilty of felony.
Legal Analysis
California Penal Code 648 PC makes it a crime to manufacture, issue, or use any:
- bank paper,
- promissory note,
- certificate,
- ticket,
- check, or
- bill
for the purpose of circulating it as money unless you are authorized to do so by federal law. A first-time offense is a misdemeanor, punishable by:
- Up to $1,000 in fines, and/or
- Up to 6 months in jail.
But a second or subsequent offense is a felony, punishable by:
- 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail, and
- Up to $10,000 in fines.1
Violating PC 648 is a misdemeanor for a first-time offense.
Legal References
- California Penal Code 648 PC – Issuing or circulating paper money. See also: In re Digiuro (; People v. Burkett (Cal. App. 2d Dist. Mar. 26, 1969), 271 Cal. App. 2d 130, 74 Cal. Rptr. 692.