What is the penal code 647?

Asked by: Luis Fritsch  |  Last update: March 20, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (4 votes)

California Penal Code 647 (PC 647) defines several offenses under the umbrella of "disorderly conduct," including lewd conduct in public, prostitution and solicitation, panhandling, public intoxication, squatting, and certain types of invasion of privacy, with different subsections (like 647(a), 647(b), 647(f)) targeting specific acts. These are generally misdemeanors, with penalties varying by subsection, but often involving fines and jail time, and sometimes diversion programs for first-time offenses.

What is Penal Code 647?

Except as provided in subdivision (l), every person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor: (a) Who solicits anyone to engage in or who engages in lewd or dissolute conduct in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view.

What is a 647 police code?

Penal Code 647 PC is the California statute that defines the crimes of lewd conduct, prostitution, panhandling, public intoxication, illegal squatting, loitering, and invasion of privacy as crimes of disorderly conduct, and are divided into sections within the State document .

What are three examples of conduct prohibited by 647 PC disorderly conduct?

Other PC 647 disorderly conduct offenses are publicly soliciting or engaging in the act of prostitution, loitering around private property without a legitimate purpose, soliciting money at the intersection of a shopping center, and invading someone's privacy through “peeping” for sexual gratification.

What does 647 f PC mean?

Under California Penal Code Section 647(f) PC, it is a misdemeanor offense to be drunk in public. This offense, also referred to as public intoxication, covers a variety of drunken behavior, from aggressively picking fights while in public to being passed out on a sidewalk.

California Penal Code 647

37 related questions found

Should I hire a lawyer for a 647 F PC charge?

If you or someone you care about has been arrested for violation of California Penal Code 647(f), it is imperative that you contact an experienced public intoxication lawyer who is familiar with disorderly conduct cases.

What is the evidence code 647?

647. The return of a process server registered pursuant to Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 22350) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code upon process or notice establishes a presumption, affecting the burden of producing evidence, of the facts stated in the return.

Is cursing at a cop disorderly conduct?

Some states use statutes to limit language considered offensive. Statutes or ordinances that cause swearing at a law enforcement officer to become criminal behavior can include the following: Disorderly conduct. Resisting arrest.

Do breasts count as indecent exposure?

For you to be charged with indecent exposure, you must have displayed one or more of your private parts. No matter your biological sex, this includes your genitals and anus. If you are genetically female, this also includes your breasts.

What's worse, disorderly conduct or assault?

5th Degree Assault and 5th Degree Domestic Assault are CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, while Disorderly Conduct is NOT A CRIME OF VIOLENCE. Although the statutory penalties are the same, up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1000 fine, the AFFECT ON YOUR LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD can be drastic.

What does screaming 187 on a cop mean?

The number "187" has been used by gangs throughout the United States and elsewhere as a synonym for murder; this usage has been documented in Florida, Wisconsin, the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway.

What does Adam mean in the police code?

There are several patrol types: Adam: two officer patrol unit. David: Special Weapons & Tactics, (SWAT)

Is prowling under Penal Code 647 H a felony?

Violations of Penal Code 647 Section (h) are misdemeanors. The penalties for a conviction include: Up to $1,000 in fines, and/or. Up to 1 year in county jail.

What is 647e in police code?

Penal Code 647e PC prohibits unlawful lodging. This is colloquially known as squatting. However, PC 647(e) also includes setting up a temporary shelter, like a tent, on property without the permission of the owner. It can even be violated when someone sleeps on another person's property.

What is an example of lewd conduct?

Lewd is a term used to describe conduct that is indecent, obscene, or lascivious. It is commonly used in statutes to refer to pornography, prostitution, indecent exposure, and other sexual conduct.

What breast shape do most men prefer?

For Many, Shape Is as Important as Size

The women preferred average-sized breasts; the men preferred slightly larger. Both men and women preferred photos of women with the firmest breasts, the kind young women have, the least droopy or saggy. In this study, breast shape was found to be as important as size.

Why is my girlfriend's breast so soft?

As women age, their milk systems shrink and are replaced by fat. By menopause, most women's breasts are completely soft. This can make normal lumps more noticeable. Sometimes women find their breasts feel different when they lose or gain weight and sometimes breasts change for no obvious reason.

Is it illegal to skinny dip in your backyard?

Skinny dipping on private land is generally allowed provided no one can see you (and you're there legally). If you want to enjoy a nude morning swim in your backyard pool that's surrounded by tall fences and hedges — go right ahead.

Is it illegal to call cops names?

Insults are protected by the First Amendment.

It was written to make sure people couldn't be imprisoned just for criticizing, insulting, or poking fun at authorities. This protection has been upheld by several Supreme Court cases, including: 1949, Terminello v. Chicago.

Is it illegal to say the f word in public?

History and Federal Stance on Profanity

However, modern courts have found that banning profanity outright would be unconstitutional in most cases, as a ban would violate the speaker's right to free speech, which is guaranteed by the first amendment.

Can you go to jail for cursing at a judge?

The judge found him in contempt of court and sentenced him to nearly 3 years in prison. Newsflash: judges can throw people in jail for disturbing the decorum of the court. Think twice before taking on a judge.

What is a 647 charge?

Lewd conduct under California Penal Code Section 647(a) PC can involve either engaging in public lewd conduct or soliciting another person to engage in this conduct. A lewd conduct charge usually occurs as a result of a sting operation and can cause serious collateral consequences and embarrassment for those convicted.

Is it illegal to take a picture of someone without their permission in California?

In the state of California, it's a crime to spy on or take photos of someone in a private setting without their knowledge and consent. We commonly refer to these as "peeping tom" crimes.

What is a 647 in police code?

Under the statute, an individual has violated Penal Code Section 647(a) PC when he or she “solicits anyone to engage in or engages in lewd or dissolute conduct in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view.” The courts have held that for a prosecution under section 647(a) PC to hold ...