LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 4Ch. 3.5§ 10801 Chop Shop Operation Penalties

§ 10801 Chop Shop Operation Penalties

Vehicle Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 10801 Chop Shop Operation Penalties

This law says it's illegal to run or own a chop shop, which is a place where stolen cars are taken apart and sold for parts. If you do this, you can go to jail or pay a big fine.

Key Takeaways

  • •Running or owning a chop shop is against the law.
  • •You can go to jail for 2 to 4 years if you break this law.
  • •You might also have to pay a fine of up to $50,000.
  • •Sometimes, the punishment could be less jail time and a smaller fine.

Example

Someone steals cars, takes them to a garage, and sells the parts to make money.

This person is breaking the law by running a chop shop. They could go to jail for 2 to 4 years or pay up to $50,000, or both.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 10801 Chop Shop Operation Penalties

Any person who knowingly and intentionally owns or operates a chop shop is guilty of a public offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for two, three, or four years, or by a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment, or by up to one year in the county jail, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 603. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

chop shoppublic offenseimprisonmentfine

Related Statutes

  • § 10802 Vehicle Identification Number Alteration
  • § 10803 Altering Vehicle Identification Numbers
  • § 21713 Armored Car Licensing Requirements
  • § 23224 Underage Alcohol Transport Rules
  • § 23554 Dui First Offense Penalties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 10801.
View Official Source