Penalties for Misuse
Any person who uses information disclosed on this website to commit a misdemeanor is, in addition to any other punishment for that misdemeanor, subject to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $50,000. Any person who uses information disclosed on this website to commit a felony shall, in addition to any other punishment for that felony, be punished by a five-year term of imprisonment. (Pen. Code, § 290.46, subd. (h).)
Penalty for Registered Sex Offenders Who Enter this Website
Any person who is required to register pursuant to Penal Code section 290 who accesses this website's functionality is punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000, imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment. (Pen. Code, § 290.46, subd. (i).) This penalty does not include viewing information on the main page or within the links on that page.
Use of Website Information Is Authorized Only to Protect a Person at Risk
A person is authorized to use information disclosed on this website only to protect a person at risk. Except to protect a person at risk or as authorized under any other law, use of any information disclosed on this website for purposes relating to any of the following is prohibited:
- Health insurance
- Insurance
- Loans
- Credit
- Employment
- Education, scholarships or fellowships
- Housing or accommodations
- Benefits, privileges, or services provided by any business establishment
Use of information on this website for purposes other than to protect a person at risk or for a prohibited purpose as described above, shall make the user liable for the actual damages caused, and any amount that may be determined by a jury or a court, not exceeding three times the amount of actual damages, and not less than $250, plus attorney's fees, exemplary damages, or a civil penalty not exceeding $25,000. (Pen. Code, § 290.46, subd. (j).)
This prohibition on use of the website information shall not affect authorized access to, or use of information pursuant to Penal Code sections 11105 and 11105.3; Family Code section 8808; Financial Code sections 777.5 and 14409.2; Health and Safety Code sections 1522.01 and 1596.871; and Labor Code section 432.7.
Pattern or Practice of Misuse of Website Information
The Attorney General or any district attorney, city attorney, or any person aggrieved by misuse of information on this website, when there is reasonable cause to believe a person or groups of persons is engaged in a pattern of practice of such misuse of this information (see Pen. Code, § 290.46, subd. (h)(2)), may bring a civil action requesting preventive relief, including an application for injunction, restraining order, or other orders against the person(s) responsible for the pattern or practice of misuse. (Pen. Code, § 290.46, subd. (j)(4)(B).)