|
Section |
Topic |
Explanation |
|
21050 |
Riding an Animal |
If you ride an animal on a highway you have all the rights and are subject to all of the duties as may apply to the driver of a vehicle ... except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application |
|
21058 |
Physician responding to an emergency |
If a physician's car displays an insignia indicating that the vehicle is owned by a licensed physician and is driving to an emergency call, driver exempt from basic speed law |
|
21100.3 |
Obedience to person controlling traffic |
A driver must obey the directions of an authorized traffic control officer |
|
21200 |
Rights and duties of bicycle riders |
If you ride a bicycle on a highway you have all the rights and are subject to all of the duties as may apply to the driver of a vehicle, including riding under the influence ... except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application |
|
21202 |
Operating on roadway |
When moving at a speed less than normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction, rider must ride as close as possible to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except to pass or preparing to turn left or to avoid unsafe conditions |
|
21208 |
Bicycle lane |
When established by a local authority, bicycles must use the bicycle lane and cannot leave that lane unless it is safe to do so. |
|
21221 |
Motorized scooters |
Same rights and subject to duties of driver of a vehicle |
|
21224 |
Motorized scooters exempt from some vehicle provisions |
Rider of a motorized scooter is exempt from financial responsibility laws, registration, and vehicle licensing requirements -- not a motor vehicle for that purpose |
|
21228 |
Motorized scooters rules of the road |
Like a bicycle -- must use bicycle lane if one exists, otherwise must stay to right-hand curb or edge of the road except where unsafe |
|
21235 |
Motorized scooters operation restrictions |
Cannot use on a street with speed limit in excess of 25 mph unless there is a bike lane; cannot ride on sidewalk; cannot carry passengers |
|
21251 |
Application of provisions applicable to motor vehicles; exemptions for low-speed vehicles |
If you operate a low-speed vehicle you have all the rights and are subject to all of the duties as may apply to the driver of a vehicle, including driving under the influence ... except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application |
|
21254 |
Low-speed vehicles modified to exceed 25 mph |
Must meet passenger vehicle federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards instead of relaxed standards. |
|
21260 |
Maximum Speed; crossing of intersections for low-speed vehicles |
Cannot be operated on any roadway with a speed limit over 35 mph, unless crossing to and from a highway with a speed limit below 35 mph. |
|
21266 |
Local laws about low-speed vehicles |
Be aware of and obey all local laws and restrictions for low-speed vehicles |
|
21281.5 |
Speeding; safe operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices |
Must give right of way to all pedestrians when riding on any sidewalk, road or path, and operate at a safe speed for the conditions |
|
21451 |
Green lights |
Drivers facing a green light may enter an intersection to perform legally permitted turns or proceed straight through. Green arrows allow protected turns, including U turns when not specifically prohibited. Pedestrians facing a green light may begin to cross an intersection unless a pedestrian control signal shows otherwise. |
|
21452 |
Yellow lights |
Warns drivers that the red light will appear soon, prohibiting drivers from entering an intersection. Pedestrians do not have sufficient time to cross an intersection if they start crossing on a yellow light. |
|
21453 |
Steady red lights and arrows |
Drivers facing a solid red signal or arrow must stop before entering crosswalks or intersections. Right turns are permitted on solid red signals (NOT arrows) after stopping, if no sign prohibits it, and if no hazards are present. |
|
21456 |
Walk, wait, or don't walk |
No pedestrian shall start to cross a road way when facing the Don't Walk, Wait, or upraised hand sign. |
|
21457 |
Illuminated flashing red or yellow lights used in traffic signal or with traffic sign |
Flashing red light is to be treated as a stop sign. Drivers facing a flashing yellow light may proceed through an intersection exercising greater caution. |
|
21460 |
Double Lines |
Cross double parallel lines only if turning left into a private road or driveway, making a legal U-turn, or crossing a broken line to overtake another car. |
|
21464 |
Interference with traffic devices |
No person shall deface or alter an official traffic sign or device. Mobile infrared transmitters and other devices that could alter traffic signals are illegal to own, install, or sell. |
|
21650.1 |
Bicycles; direction on roadways |
Always ride in the same direction as traffic. |
|
21654 |
Slow moving vehicles |
Stay as close as possible to the right side of the road when traveling in the same direction as traffic but at slower speeds. |
|
21655 |
Lanes for high occupancy vehicles (car pool lanes) |
Do not enter the car pool lane, not even to pass a vehicle, if your car is not transporting the minimum number of passengers required by law. Do not cross double yellow lines to enter the car pool lane. |
|
21656 |
Turning out of slow moving vehicles |
One a two lane road, where passing on the left is unsafe, a vehicle with five other vehicles behind it in a line must turn out at a designated turnout and let them all pass. |
|
21658 |
Laned roadways |
Drive completely in one lane when there are multiple lanes in the same direction, switching lanes only when it is safe to do so. Obey signs that reserve lanes for specific purposes. |
|
21660 |
Approaching vehicles |
Pass each other on the right, and give each other at least half of the road whenever possible |
|
21661 |
Narrow roadways |
The person driving downhill gives the right of way to the ascending car, and will turn off the road to make room for safe passing if necessary. |
|
21662 |
Mountain driving |
Stay in control of your vehicle at all times. Drive as far to the right on the road as possible. Use your horn to warn other drivers you are approaching within 200 feet of a curve on a narrow road with an obstructed view. |
|
21663 |
Driving on sidewalk |
Do not drive on sidewalks unless unless it is expressly allowed or when entering or exiting adjacent property. |
|
21700 |
Obstruction to driving |
Do not drive if your vehicle is so loaded that it interferes with your vision and control of the vehicle. |
|
21701 |
Interference with driver or mechanism |
Do not interfere with the driver of a vehicle or the mechanism thereof in a way that affects the driver's control. |
|
21702 |
Limitation on driving hours |
No person may drive a bus or other vehicle for transporting people for compensation more than 10 hours in a 24 period unless they have had 8 consecutive hours of rest. No commercial driver may drive 12 consecutive hours or 12 hours spread over 15 hours. |
|
21703 |
Following too closely |
Leave a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you considering the speeds, road conditions, traffic, and general regard for safety. |
|
21706 |
Following emergency vehicle |
Do not follow within 300 feet of an emergency vehicle |
|
21710 |
Coasting prohibited |
Traveling downhill in neutral is illegal |
|
21712 |
Unlawful riding and towing |
No passenger may sit in any part of a vehicle that is not intended for passengers, nor shall anybody tow a motorcycle, trailer or coach containing a passenger. |
|
21714 |
Motorcyclists or motorized bicyclists; operation of vehicle; prohibited area |
It is illegal to ride on, or immediately adjacent to, markers designating lanes or between to or more vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes. |
|
21716 |
Golf carts, operation |
Only to be operated where the speed limit is 25 mph or less |
|
21718 |
Parking or leaving a vehicle on a freeway |
Only do this if to avoid injury, told to do so by an officer, when engaging in maintenance, or where specifically permitted |
|
21750 |
Overtake and pass to left |
If it is safe to overtake a vehicle or bicycle in front of you traveling in the same direction, do so on the left and allow them enough space to operate normally |
|
21751 |
Passing without sufficient clearance |
Pass only when you can clearly see it is safe to do so. This includes instances on 2 lane roads. |
|
21752 |
When driving on left prohibited |
No driving on the left side of the roadway when approaching a curve or crest where the other driver's view is obstructed, or within 100 feet of a bridge tunnel, railroad grade, or intersection. |
|
21753 |
Yielding when passing |
Do not speed up when being passed -- slow and allow safe passing. |
|
21756 |
Passing standing streetcar, trolley coach, or bus |
Stop behind a vehicle discharging passengers, unless there is a specially designed safety zone |
|
21759 |
Caution in passing animals |
slow down and obey any signals by any person in charge of the animals to ensure safe passing. |
|
21800 |
Intersections without functioning traffic control signs, or with all-directional stop signs |
When entering an intersection at the same time, yield right of way to the driver on your right. In case of a broken traffic control device, stop at an intersection and proceed when safe to do so. |
|
21801 |
Left or U turn right of way |
Unless you have a protective green arrow, always yield right of way to oncoming traffic. |
|
21803 |
Yield right-of-way |
Yield when a sign says to do so, when merging onto a road, or when a vehicle is crossing ahead of you. |
|
21805 |
Equestrian crossings |
Horseback riders may cross roads at officially designated crossing points, but should always use caution. Vehicles must yield to horses crossing. |
|
21950 |
Right of way at crosswalks |
Pedestrians always have the right of way at crosswalks. Drivers should exercise the right of care when pedestrians are crossing roads illegally |
|
21952 |
Right-of-way on sidewalk |
Always give the right-of-way to pedestrians if you are driving over or upon a sidewalk for any reason. |
|
21954 |
Pedestrians outside crosswalks |
Yield right-of-way to all vehicles. However, vehicles must exercise due care for the safety of pedestrians. |
|
21957 |
Hitchhiking |
Standing in a road to solicit a ride is illegal. |
|
22100 |
Turning |
Only make U turns at intersections that allow it. No U turns near fire station driveways, on streets with obstructed views, in residence districts when another vehicle is approaching. |
|
22112 |
Stopping behind school bus |
Stop behind and do not pass a school bus that is loading/unloading children and has flashing red lights and a stop sign. |
|
22350 |
Basic Speed Law |
Always drive at a speed that is appropriate for the given road and weather conditions. Remember it is illegal to exceed the stated speed limit. |
|
22352 |
Speed Limits |
15 mph: obstructed view railway crossing and intersections, in alleys; 25 mph: residential zones, school zones, near senior facilities, near park playgrounds |
|
22400 |
Minimum speed law |
Do not drive so slowly that you interfere or impede normal traffic, thus becoming a safety hazard. |
|
22406 |
Maximum speed limit for certain vehicles |
The following may not be driven at speeds over 55 mph: vehicle with 3 or more axles, vehicle towing another vehicle, school bus transporting any pupil, farm labor vehicle, vehicle transporting explosives, trailer bus |
|
22451 |
Train signals |
Stop no less than 15 from rails and proceed when safe. Never pass through, around, or under the protective gates |
|
23103 |
Reckless Driving |
Driving on a highway or in a parking lot showing wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property |
|
23109 |
Speed contests and exhibitions of speed |
Racing, assisting in a race, or clocking high speeds is punishable with jail time and fines. |
|
23110 |
Throwing substance at vehicles |
Do not throw anything at cars. Doing so will be treated as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the damage. |
|
23111 |
Throwing substances on highways or adjoining areas |
Throwing anything, including cigarettes lit or unlit, garbage, etc. is illegal. |
|
23116 |
Pickup of flatbed trucks; transportation in back; section application |
Do not transport unrestrained passengers in the back of a truck unless you are on a farm, in an emergency, or in a law enforcement supervised parade. |
|
23117 |
Transportation of animals; enclosure or restraint requirements |
Do not transport animals in the back of a vehicle unless the space for it is enclosed, has side and tail racks 46 inches high, has means to prevent the animal from escaping, being thrown, or falling out of the vehicle. This does not apply to transporting cattle or traveling with dogs for farming reasons. |
|
23123 |
Driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone |
Not allowed unless the phone is specifically designed and configured to be used hands-free. Making emergency phone calls to police or medical personnel is allowed. |
|
23124 |
Minor using wireless telephone while driving |
Drivers under 18 cannot drive while using a wireless phone -- not even hands free. |
|
23123.5 |
Driving a motor vehicle while writing, sending or reading text-based communication |
Do not read, write, or send text based communication while driving. |
|
23127 |
Trails and paths |
Do not operate a motor vehicle on a bike path, hiking trail, or horse trail where signs prohibit it, unless you have written permission from the owner of the trail. Bike paths that are adjacent and contiguous to a roadway are an exception. |
|
23128 |
Snowmobiles |
Do not hunt or harass animals while on a snowmobile. Do not operate a snowmobile on a highway or in a way that is dangerous to somebody or their property. |
|
23136 |
Blood alcohol concentration of .01 or greater for someone under 21 |
A person under 21 cannot drive with a BAC of .01 or greater. |
|
23152 |
Driving under influence; blood alcohol percentage, presumptions |
Do not drive under the influence of foreign substances. No person is allowed to drive if they are addicted to a drug, unless they are in rehab. Operating a vehicle with BAC of .08 or greater results in a DUI. Commercial vehicles cannot be operated with a BAC of .04 or greater. |
|
23220 |
Drinking while driving of any vehicle |
No drinking alcoholic beverages while driving or as a passenger in a vehicle on a highway. |
|
23222 |
Possession of open container containing alcoholic beverage or marijuana while driving |
Open containers in the car are illegal, as is a container with marijuana of more than one avoirdupois ounce. |
|
23223 |
Possession of opened container in a motor vehicle |
Drivers or passengers may not have open containers in a motor vehicle on a highway. |
|
23224 |
Possession of alcoholic beverage in vehicle; persons under 21 |
Drivers or passengers under 21 years old cannot possess alcoholic beverages in their car, unless accompanied by a parent or responsible adult relative designated by the parents. |
