California Legal Codes and Statutes

Chapter 1 - Solicitation for Veterans’ Benefits

California Military and Veterans Code — §§ 1800-1802

Sections (3)

§ 1800

Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 206, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2007.

As used in Section 1801:

(a)“Veterans’ organizations” means any duly congressionally recognized or chartered organization of honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any of their auxiliaries, including, but not limited to, the Air Force Sergeants Association, American Ex-Prisoners of War, American Legion, American Veterans, Armed Forces Retirees Association of California, Association of the United States Army, Blinded Veterans Association, California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, California State Commanders Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans, Fleet Reserve Association, Jewish War Veterans, Legion of Valor, Marine Corps League, Military Officers Association of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Association for Uniformed Services, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Reserve Officers Association, Retired Enlisted Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, or WAVES National.
(b)“Poppy” means any article fashioned of cloth, paper, or other material which represents or resembles the poppy or other flower.
(c)“Badge” means any badge, rosette, lapel button, or other insignia of any veterans’ organization or any imitation thereof.
(d)“Label” means any card, paper, sign, certificate, banner, or other material containing the name of or a similar name to that of any veterans’ organization.
§ 1801

Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 206, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007.

It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following acts:

(a)To hawk, peddle, vend, offer to sell, give away, or offer to give away any poppy, badge, or label, which appears to be, or is represented directly or indirectly as being, sponsored, endorsed, or offered by any veterans’ organization, when such poppy, badge, or label is not so sponsored, endorsed, or offered by any veterans’ organization.
(b)To represent in any way, directly or indirectly, that any poppy, badge, or label is sponsored, endorsed, or is being offered by a veterans’ organization when it is in fact not so sponsored, endorsed, or offered by that veterans’ organization.
(c)To represent in any way, directly or indirectly that any act of solicitation of the contribution of funds or property or for the purchase or sale of any merchandise or services is sponsored, endorsed, or made by or at the request of a veterans’ organization when it is not in fact so sponsored, endorsed, or made by that veterans’ organization.
(d)To manufacture, process, assemble or distribute, or offer for sale, any poppy, badge, or label which appears to be, or is represented directly or indirectly as being, sponsored, endorsed, or offered by any veterans’ organization, when such poppy, badge, or label is not so sponsored, endorsed, or offered by any veterans’ organization.

Any person, whether or not an honorably discharged member of the Armed Forces of the United States, and whether or not licensed to hawk, peddle, or vend goods, wares, or merchandise, who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

§ 1802

Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 68.

Any person who solicits funds for the benefit of any veteran or veterans’ association and who uses such funds for purposes other than those represented in the solicitation is guilty of a misdemeanor.