CHAPTER 2.5. Combinations to Obstruct Sales of Livestock [16800. - 16804.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 2.5.

in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 16800. Section 16800.

It is unlawful for any two or more persons, or corporations, to combine or agree together to do any act which will, in any respect, prevent any person from buying livestock at any place in this State.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 16801. Section 16801.

It is unlawful for any corporation organized under the laws of this State, or the board of directors, trustees, stockholders, agents, or officers of any corporation, to pass or enforce any rule, by-law, or regulation whereby any officer, stockholder, member, shareholder, agent, servant thereof, or any other person in any way interested in or connected with such corporation shall in any respect be prohibited, prevented, or enjoined from buying livestock in any market in this State where livestock is brought to be sold. Every such rule, regulation, or by-law is declared to be contrary to the public policy of this State, and is unlawful and void. Any person who attempts, directly or indirectly, to enforce any such rule, regulation, or by-law, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the penalties prescribed in this chapter.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 16802. Section 16802.

No trust, combination, or conspiracy shall be organized or exist in this State to prevent any person or corporation from selling livestock on commission at such rate as the person or corporation may see fit to charge. Any rule, regulation, by-law, or agreement of any corporation, association, society, or combination of persons, whereby any such parties are required to charge not less than a given sum for commissions, or whereby any person or commission merchant is, in any respect, restrained from charging less than a certain fixed sum for his services as such commission merchant in the sale of livestock, is declared to be contrary to the public policy of this State, and is unlawful. Any person who enters into any such trust, combination, or conspiracy, or who enforces or aids, abets, assists, or encourages the enforcement of any such rule, regulation, by-law, or agreement, is liable to the penalties prescribed in this chapter.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 16803. Section 16803.

Any person who, directly or indirectly, is a party to any combination, conspiracy, or association, which attempts, directly or indirectly, to prevent any other person from freely selling livestock at any market in this State for such persons as see fit to engage his services, or who endeavors to compel, directly or indirectly, any person to charge not less than a fixed minimum sum for services in the sale of livestock, or who, in any way, hinders or prevents any person from lawfully selling livestock for another for such rate of commission as may be agreed upon is guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to the penalties prescribed in this chapter.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 16804. Section 16804.

A violation of any provision of this chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or both. A person violating any provision of this chapter shall be liable, in civil action, to any person aggrieved thereby, for the full amount of damages sustained by reason of the violation.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026