CALIFORNIA CODES PENAL
CODE
SECTION 530.8 Persons Right to Receive Information Relating to Application Made or Account Opened in Person's Name by UnauthorizedPerson; Requirements for Information Request


530.8. (a) If a person discovers that an application in his or her
name for a loan, credit line or account, credit card, charge card,
public utility service, mail receiving or forwarding service, office
or desk space rental service, or commercial mobile radio service has
been filed with any person or entity by an unauthorized person, or
that an account in his or her name has been opened with a bank, trust
company, savings association, credit union, public utility, mail
receiving or forwarding service, office or desk space rental service,
or commercial mobile radio service provider by an unauthorized
person, then, upon presenting to the person or entity with which the
application was filed or the account was opened a copy of a police
report prepared pursuant to Section 530.6 and identifying information
in the categories of information that the unauthorized person used
to complete the application or to open the account, the person, or a
law enforcement officer specified by the person, shall be entitled to
receive information related to the application or account, including
a copy of the unauthorized person's application or application
information and a record of transactions or charges associated with
the application or account. Upon request by the person in whose name
the application was filed or in whose name the account was opened,
the person or entity with which the application was filed shall
inform him or her of the categories of identifying information that
the unauthorized person used to complete the application or to open
the account. The person or entity with which the application was
filed or the account was opened shall provide copies of all paper
records, records of telephone applications or authorizations, or
records of electronic applications or authorizations required by this
section, without charge, within 10 business days of receipt of the
person's request and submission of the required copy of the police
report and identifying information.
(b) Any request made pursuant to subdivision (a) to a person or
entity subject to the provisions of Section 2891 of the Public
Utilities Code shall be in writing and the requesting person shall be
deemed to be the subscriber for purposes of that section.
(c) (1) Before a person or entity provides copies to a law
enforcement officer pursuant to subdivision (a), the person or entity
may require the requesting person to submit a signed and dated
statement by which the requesting person does all of the following:
(A) Authorizes disclosure for a stated period.
(B) Specifies the name of the agency or department to which the
disclosure is authorized.
(C) Identifies the types of records that the requesting person
authorizes to be disclosed.
(2) The person or entity shall include in the statement to be
signed by the requesting person a notice that the requesting person
has the right at any time to revoke the authorization.
(d) (1) A failure to produce records pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall be addressed by the court in the jurisdiction in which the
victim resides or in which the request for information was issued. At
the victim's request, the Attorney General, the district attorney,
or the prosecuting city attorney may file a petition to compel the
attendance of the person or entity in possession of the records, as
described in subdivision (a), and order the production of the
requested records to the court. The petition shall contain a
declaration from the victim stating when the request for information
was made, that the information requested was not provided, and what
response, if any, was made by the person or entity. The petition
shall also contain copies of the police report prepared pursuant to
Section 530.6 and the request for information made pursuant to this
section upon the person or entity in possession of the records, as
described in subdivision (a), and these two documents shall be kept
confidential by the court. The petition and copies of the police
report and the application shall be served upon the person or entity
in possession of the records, as described in subdivision (a). The
court shall hold a hearing on the petition no later than 10 court
days after the petition is served and filed. The court shall order
the release of records to the victim as required pursuant to this
section.
(2) In addition to any other civil remedy available, the victim
may bring a civil action against the entity for damages, injunctive
relief or other equitable relief, and a penalty of one hundred
dollars ($100) per day of noncompliance, plus reasonable attorneys'
fees.
(e) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(1) "Application" means a new application for credit or service,
the addition of authorized users to an existing account, the renewal
of an existing account, or any other changes made to an existing
account.
(2) "Commercial mobile radio service" means "commercial mobile
radio service" as defined in Section 20.3 of Title 47 of the Code of
Federal Regulations.
(3) "Law enforcement officer" means a peace officer as defined by
Section 830.1.
(4) "Person" means a natural person, firm, association,
organization, partnership, business trust, company, corporation,
limited liability company, or public entity.