Signal jammers.

Senator Wahab's legislation establishing new penalties for signal jammer offenses in California creates a tiered system of criminal charges based on the severity and circumstances of their use. The measure defines signal jammers as devices that intentionally block or interfere with authorized radio or wireless communications.

The bill establishes an escalating penalty structure, making unauthorized manufacture, import, sale, purchase, or operation of signal jammers an infraction punishable by a $500 fine for first offenses and a misdemeanor for subsequent violations. Using signal jammers while committing other crimes becomes a separate misdemeanor offense. The measure reserves the most severe penalties for cases where signal jammers are used to block public safety communications and result in death or serious injury, allowing prosecution as either a misdemeanor or felony. All convictions require forfeiture of the jamming device.

The provisions exempt authorized use by state and local law enforcement while aligning California statute with existing federal prohibitions on signal interference. The bill defines public safety communications as the systems used by emergency responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services, to coordinate their operations.