Does section 654 of the California Criminal Code limit punishment for multiple convictions arising out of a single act?

Section 654, subdivision (a), provides that "[a]n act or omission that is punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be punished under the provision that provides for the longest potential term of imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or omission be punished under more than one provision." In addition to limiting punishment for multiple convictions arising out of a single act, section 654 limits punishment for multiple convictions arising out of a course of conduct deemed to be indivisible in time where the defendant entertained a single principal objective. (People v. Beamon (1973) 8 Cal.3d 625, 639.)