Public order, justice-system and organized crime offenses
Disorderly conduct, riot and assembly offenses within First Amendment limits, recording police, bribery, perjury and false reports, impersonation, resisting and obstruction, escape and contraband, abuse of office, gambling, organized crime and terrorism under SAPC Chapters 36 to 39, 42, 47, 71 and 72.
Required for Class A Class B Class C Class D Class E Class F
The exam draws 30 questions from a bank of 59. You have 45 minutes, and you need 80% to pass. Questions apply the law to situations. To prepare, read this guide alongside the cited sections of the San Andreas codes, the 2026 Law Enforcement Reform Package and the federal authorities below. The U.S. Constitution binds every San Andreas officer. Supreme Court decisions are binding; federal circuit decisions are accepted authority, and where circuits differ the academy teaches the rule that protects rights more.
Public order enforcement is where police power meets the First Amendment most often, and an officer who gets it wrong turns a lawful arrest into a civil rights violation. The First Amendment protects a significant amount of verbal criticism and challenge directed at police (City of Houston v. Hill), and as a matter of professional practice an officer is expected to show more restraint than the average citizen when insulted. Offensive words alone, not directed at a person as a provocation, are protected (Cohen v. California), and the Ninth Circuit held that stopping a car because an occupant made an obscene gesture at an officer was unlawful, because insulting police is protected expression (Duran v. City of Douglas). The narrow exception is fighting words: face-to-face words likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction (Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire). Expressive conduct such as burning a flag in protest is also protected (Texas v. Johnson). Probable cause generally defeats a retaliatory arrest claim, but not where similarly situated people who were not engaged in protected speech are not arrested (Nieves v. Bartlett), so selective enforcement against critics is both unlawful and provable. The test for every speech-related arrest is the same: identify conduct or unprotected speech that meets each element of a statute, not the content or tone of what the person said about the officer.
Disorderly Conduct (SAPC §42.05, Class C) is intentionally or knowingly using abusive, indecent or profane language in a public place in a manner likely to provoke an immediate breach of the peace, or making an unreasonable noise in a public place; a repeat conviction is §42.06 (Class B). The 'likely to provoke an immediate breach of the peace' language tracks Chaplinsky, so it reaches fighting words, not profanity in general, and under Hill words of criticism or insult aimed at an officer will rarely meet it. Disturbing the Peace (§42.07, Class C) is conduct that unnecessarily disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighbourhood or public place. Harassment of a Public Servant - Verbal Obstruction (§42.15, Class B) applies only where words or conduct unreasonably obstruct the officer's performance, such as shouting to interfere with the officer's radio communications or creating a disturbance around an active scene; under Hill, criticism, questions, insults and recording from a reasonable distance are not obstruction. Affray (§42.11, Class A) is voluntary participation in a mutual fight in a public place likely to alarm the public. Public Intoxication (§42.23, Class C) requires intoxication to the degree that the person may endanger himself or another, not merely being drunk in public. Recklessly or carelessly discharging a firearm within city limits is §42.34 (Class A).
People have a right to assemble, march and protest, subject to content-neutral time, place and manner rules that are narrowly tailored to a significant interest and leave ample alternatives (Ward v. Rock Against Racism). Speech on public issues in a public place, however offensive, is protected when it obeys lawful time, place and manner rules (Snyder v. Phelps); an officer may enforce a permit's route or a noise limit, but not silence a message because it is hateful. Advocacy of force is protected unless it is directed to inciting imminent lawless action and is likely to produce it (Brandenburg v. Ohio). Riot Participation (SAPC §42.08, Class B) is participating with seven or more persons in the use of force or violence, or the threat of it, by a group that disturbs the public peace. Inciting a Riot (§42.09, Class A) requires intent to cause others to riot and is proved with Brandenburg in mind. Aggravated Riot with Weapons (§42.10, 3rd Degree) covers using or carrying a deadly weapon in a riot. Unlawful Assembly (§42.12, Class B) requires seven or more people who refuse to disperse when ordered by a peace officer, where the assembly poses a clear and present danger of violence. Failure to Disperse on Lawful Order (§42.20, Class B) requires three or more people in conduct creating immediate danger of force or violence who refuse to disperse when ordered. A peaceful, lawful demonstration is not an unlawful assembly because it is large, loud or unpopular.
A dispersal order must be lawful before refusing it is a crime. The facts that make it lawful are those the statutes name: the number of people, conduct creating a clear and present or immediate danger of violence, and an order given by a peace officer. As general professional practice, commanders give the order clearly and audibly, repeat it, identify a route out, allow time to comply, and record the order on body-worn camera so the report can show who heard it. Obstructing a Highway or Passageway (§42.13, Class B) is intentionally, knowingly or recklessly obstructing a street, sidewalk or other public passage without legal privilege. Disrupting a Funeral or Memorial Service (§42.19, Class B) is knowingly disrupting a funeral, memorial or burial within one hour before to two hours after the service; the statute punishes disruption, and Snyder protects peaceful picketing that follows lawful distance and timing rules. Openly recording police performing their duties in a public place is protected by the First Amendment (Glik v. Cunniffe; Fields v. City of Philadelphia), subject to reasonable time, place and manner limits such as keeping back from an arrest. An officer may tell a filming bystander to step back a reasonable distance, but may not order him to stop recording, seize his phone to delete video, or arrest him for filming. Knowingly disabling, covering or tampering with an officer's body-worn camera to prevent recording an official action is §38.101 (Class A).
Bribery corrupts the officer's own role, and every recruit will be offered one eventually. Bribery of a Law Enforcement Officer (SAPC §36.02, 3rd Degree) is offering, conferring or agreeing to confer any benefit on a peace officer with intent to influence the officer's exercise of law enforcement powers or official duties. The offer alone completes it; the officer need not accept, and the benefit need not be money. Bribery of a Public Official (§36.01, 3rd Degree) covers any public servant's vote, decision or official conduct. A public servant who accepts a benefit as consideration for a discretionary decision commits Public Corruption (§36.04, 3rd Degree), and a public servant who wrongfully obtains property by extracting payment under pretense or threat of official action commits Extortion Under Color of Official Right (§34.13, 2nd Degree). Coercion of a Public Servant (§36.03, Class A) is influencing or attempting to influence a public servant's specific exercise of official power by threat of harm to a person or property. Commercial Bribery (§36.05, State Jail Felony) covers private employees and agents, Vote Buying (§36.07) covers voters, Judicial Bribery (§37.07) covers judges and jurors, and Bribery of a Correctional Officer (§38C.27) is a 2nd Degree Felony. As academy practice, an officer offered a bribe refuses it, documents the exact words and any money offered, preserves body-worn camera, and reports it; quietly declining and moving on leaves a felony unrecorded.
Perjury protects sworn testimony. The elements are a false statement under oath, or swearing to the truth of a false statement previously made, made with intent to deceive and with knowledge of the statement's meaning (SAPC §37.01; §37.13). Aggravated perjury adds an official proceeding and a material false statement, one that could have affected the course or outcome of the proceeding (§37.02; §37.14). The code currently lists two sets of perjury entries with different grades, so the officer documents the elements and lets the prosecutor select the section. Making a false sworn affidavit or statement before an authorized official is §37.17 (Class A). These offenses apply to officers too. A warrant fails if the affiant knowingly or recklessly included a false statement necessary to probable cause (Franks v. Delaware), and a peace officer who knowingly files a report, arrest affidavit or complaint containing materially false statements commits §38.81 (3rd Degree). Court-related offenses include Contempt of Court (§37.03, Class A), Bail Jumping after release on a misdemeanor (§37.04, Class A) or a felony (§37.05, 3rd Degree), willful Failure to Appear after release on recognizance (§38C.13, Class A), Jury Tampering (§37.06; §37.15), Disrupting a Court Session (§37.09), and Threatening a Court Officer, including a judge, bailiff, clerk, prosecutor or defense attorney (§37.10, 3rd Degree).
False information offenses are distinguished by what was said and to whom. False Report to Law Enforcement (SAPC §38.23, Class A) is knowingly giving false information to a peace officer with intent to deceive. Filing a False Police Report (§38.24, Class B) is intentionally making a statement known to be false about the commission of an offense in a report to law enforcement, such as reporting a car stolen to cover a crash. False Alarm or Report (§38.61, Class A) is knowingly reporting a fire, explosion, crime or other emergency that does not exist, or pulling a fire alarm with no emergency; Abuse of the 911 System (§38.27, Class B) covers non-emergency misuse such as repeated nuisance calls; and a Terrorist Hoax (§72.13, 3rd Degree) is a false report of a terrorist act, weapon of mass destruction or hoax device. Identity is its own subject. A state may require a person lawfully detained on reasonable suspicion to state his name (Hiibel), but no one may be stopped and required to identify himself without reasonable suspicion (Brown v. Texas). Failure to Identify (§38.08, Class C) applies only after a lawful stop. Concealment of Identity (§38.15, Class A) is giving a false name, date of birth, address or identification after a lawful detention or arrest. A detained witness who refuses to identify is §38.17 (Class B), and a fugitive under lawful arrest who refuses to identify is §38.07 (Class A).
Impersonation offenses protect public trust in authority. Impersonating a Peace Officer (SAPC §38.09, Class A) is impersonating an officer by action or statement with intent to induce another to submit to pretended authority, and Impersonating a Public Servant such as a government official, judge or agency employee is §38.10 (3rd Degree). A non-officer who wears, displays or possesses a police uniform, badge or insignia with intent to be mistaken for a peace officer commits §38.85 (Class A); costume wear with no such intent is not the offense. Impersonating a federal officer or agent is §38.88 (State Jail Felony). Chapter 37D adds Impersonating Military Personnel to obtain a benefit or deceive (§37D.01, Class A), Impersonating a Medical Professional while performing or offering to perform an act requiring the licence (§37D.02, State Jail Felony), Impersonating an Attorney by representing clients, filing court documents or collecting legal fees (§37D.03, State Jail Felony), Impersonating a Child Protective Services Worker to gain access to a child or a family's home (§37D.04, 3rd Degree), and Impersonating a Judge or Magistrate (§37D.05, 3rd Degree). Impersonating a utility worker to gain access is §38.70. The officer documents the claimed authority, the words used, the uniform or credentials shown, and what the suspect tried to get the victim to do.
Resisting and evading offenses depend on a lawful police action. Resisting Arrest (SAPC §38.04, Class A) is intentionally preventing or obstructing an officer from effecting an arrest, search or transport by using force against the officer; going limp, pulling an arm away without striking, or refusing to stand is not described as force against the officer, although it may justify reasonable force to complete the arrest. Evading Arrest on Foot (§38.05, Class A) is intentionally fleeing an officer lawfully attempting to arrest or detain; evading in a vehicle with no injury is §38.01 (Class A), rising to §38.02 (3rd Degree) if the flight causes serious bodily injury and §38.03 (2nd Degree) if it causes death; fleeing on foot and causing bodily injury is §38.06 (3rd Degree). Failure to Stop for Investigative Detention (§38.16, Class B) applies to a person on foot ordered to stop by an officer with reasonable suspicion. A show of authority is not a seizure until the person submits, and contraband thrown away while fleeing is not the fruit of a seizure (California v. Hodari D.). Where a statute's elements include a lawful arrest or detention (§38.05, §38.01) or an order backed by reasonable suspicion (§38.16), an unlawful stop defeats that element. Refusing to assist an officer who calls for help making an arrest or preventing a breach of the peace, without reasonable cause, is §38.14 (Class B).
Obstruction offenses protect investigations and proceedings. Obstruction of Justice (SAPC §38.18, 3rd Degree) is knowingly engaging in conduct with intent to impede the due administration of justice in an official proceeding. Tampering with Evidence (§38.19, 3rd Degree) is altering, destroying or concealing a record or thing with intent to impair its availability, knowing an investigation or official proceeding is pending; §38.20 covers physical evidence relevant to an investigation, and removing or altering evidence from a scene under investigation is §38.30 (State Jail Felony). Witness Intimidation (§38.21) uses threat, force or deception to make a witness abstain from, delay or alter testimony; Witness Tampering (§38.22) attempts by any means, including bribery, to influence testimony; Retaliation (§38.43) is harming or threatening to harm a person because they are a witness, informant or crime reporter, and the threat alone is enough. Misprision of Felony (§38.31, Class B) requires positive acts of concealment of a known felony, not mere silence. Failure to Report a Felony (§38.99, Class A) applies to a person who observes a felony in which serious bodily injury or death may have resulted and fails to report it to a peace officer as soon as reasonably possible. Obstruction of Government Operations (§38.29, Class A) is intentionally hindering an agency's operations by an unlawful act, such as blocking access to a facility.
Chapter 38C protects custody. Escape from Custody is a Class A Misdemeanor when the person is held on a misdemeanor charge or conviction, including from a police vehicle or holding cell (SAPC §38C.01), and a 3rd Degree Felony when held on a felony (§38C.02); using force or threats against an officer during an escape is §38C.03 (2nd Degree), and using or exhibiting a deadly weapon §38C.04 (1st Degree). A custodian who negligently permits or intentionally aids an escape commits §38C.05 (3rd Degree), and an outsider who knowingly helps is Aiding Escape (§7.09). Failing to return from furlough or work release is §38C.06, and tampering with a court-ordered monitor §38C.08 (State Jail Felony). Taking or attempting to take contraband into a correctional facility is graded by the item: an ordinary item is 3rd Degree (§38C.14), a controlled substance (§38C.15) or weapon (§38C.16) 2nd Degree; using a visitor or unwitting person as the carrier is §38C.21; a cell phone is §38C.22; and flying a drone over a facility without authorization is §38C.26 regardless of intent. An inmate who possesses a shank is §38C.28. Intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a known correctional officer on duty is §38C.17 (3rd Degree), and causing serious bodily injury or using a deadly weapon §38C.18 (1st Degree). Registered sex offenders must register (§38C.09) and report changes within seven days (§38C.10).
Abuse of office applies the criminal law to public servants, including officers. Official Oppression (SAPC §38.74, Class A) is a public servant, under color of office, intentionally subjecting a person to mistreatment, or to an arrest, detention, search or seizure known to be unlawful. Unlawful Arrest by a peace officer (§38.80, State Jail Felony) requires that the officer knew there was no lawful basis; a good-faith mistake is not this offense. Deprivation of Civil Rights Under Color of Law (§38.82) is willfully depriving a person of a constitutional or statutory right, graded upward by injury, and parallels the federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 242 (Screws v. United States). Excessive force causing bodily injury is §39.01 (Class A), rising to a 3rd Degree Felony with serious bodily injury. Tampering with a Government Record, such as a police report, log or database, is §39.02. Abuse of Official Capacity is a public servant intentionally or knowingly misusing government property, services or personnel for personal benefit, graded by value: under $2,500 Class A (§39.04), $2,500 to under $30,000 State Jail Felony (§39.05), and over $30,000 3rd Degree (§39.06). Misuse of Official Information (§38.73, 3rd Degree) is a public servant using non-public information obtained through the position with intent to harm or defraud. Running a CAD or NCIC query on an ex-partner, or using a patrol car for a private job, is not a policy matter alone: it can be a crime.
Gambling offenses in Chapter 47 range from the bettor to the operator. Gambling (SAPC §47.01, Class C) is betting on a game or contest, or playing and betting for money or value at a game of chance. Keeping a Gambling Place (§47.02, Class A) is knowingly using or permitting a place to be used for gambling. Communicating betting information to someone engaged in gambling (§47.03) and possessing slot machines, roulette wheels or similar devices used for gambling for profit (§47.04) are Class A Misdemeanors. Operating an Illegal Gambling Enterprise (§47.05, 3rd Degree) requires operating, managing or supervising an illegal gambling business involving five or more persons, or one in substantially continuous operation for more than 30 days. Knowingly possessing illegal gambling proceeds, or financing or bankrolling an illegal operation, is §47.06 (State Jail Felony). Operating an unlicensed online casino or sportsbook (§47.08) or an unlicensed sports betting business (§47.10) is a 3rd Degree Felony; cheating at a licensed casino with marked cards, devices or past-posting is §47.11 (State Jail Felony); and a person younger than 21 who gambles at a licensed establishment, or in unlicensed gambling, commits §47.07 (Class C).
Organized crime and terrorism statutes target structure and purpose. Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (SAPC §71.01, 2nd Degree) requires intent to establish, maintain or participate in a combination of three or more persons who collaborate in carrying on criminal activities, plus committing or conspiring to commit an underlying offense such as robbery, theft, fraud or drug distribution; conspiring to do so is §71.06 (3rd Degree). Criminal Street Gang Membership With Knowledge of Activity (§71.02, 3rd Degree) requires active participation, knowledge of the gang's pattern of criminal activity, and knowingly promoting, furthering or assisting it; membership, clothing or association alone does not meet those elements. Recruiting a known minor into a gang is §71.03 (2nd Degree), and knowingly violating a served gang injunction §71.04 (Class A). Racketeering (§71.05, 1st Degree) requires a pattern of two or more related criminal acts through which a person derives income from, acquires an interest in, or conducts the affairs of an enterprise; RICO in Chapter 72 (§72.07) also requires a pattern of racketeering activity. Terrorism - Imminent Threat (§72.01, 1st Degree) is threatening violence or destruction with intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or government, creating an imminent danger. Knowingly providing money, weapons, lodging or other material support to a terrorist organization or act is §72.10, financing it §72.12, recruiting for it §72.11, and conspiring to overthrow the government by force is Sedition (§72.14). Advocacy of ideas, however extreme, remains protected unless Brandenburg's incitement test is met.
Constitution and case law
The federal authorities this module's questions rely on, and the rule the academy takes from each.
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