The California Vehicle Code (often abbreviated as VC or CVC) is the set of statutes that regulate the operation, registration, and ownership of motor vehicles (as well as bicycles and other devices) used to move people, animals and goods along the state’s roadways.
The Vehicle Code codifies most laws regarding traffic infractions and criminal offenses involving vehicles, including:
- DUI,
- reckless driving, and
- driving on a suspended license.
Below, we list most of the significant infractions and driving-related crimes. Click on a link for in-depth legal analysis.
Vehicle Code 20 VC | False Statements to the DMV or CHP
Vehicle Code 31 VC | Providing False Information to a Peace or Police Officer
Vehicle Code 2800 CVC | Disobeying a Police Officer
Vehicle Code 2800.1 VC | Evading a Peace or Police Officer
Vehicle Code 2800.2 VC | Felony Reckless Evading
Vehicle Code 2800.3 VC | Evading an Officer Causing Injury or Death
Vehicle Code 2800.4 VC | Evading an Officer by Driving in Opposite Direction of Traffic
Vehicle Code 2814.2 VC | Sobriety Checkpoint Inspections
Vehicle Code 4000a1 | Vehicle Registration Requirements
Vehicle Code 4461 VC | Illegal Use of Disabled Parking Placards
Vehicle Code 4462 VC | Evidence of Registration
Vehicle Code 4462.5 VC | Misuse of Vehicle Registration
Vehicle Code 4463 VC | Forgery or Falsification of Car Registration Stickers
Vehicle Code 4463(b) and (c) VC | Forgery or Falsification of Disability Placards
Vehicle Code 5200 VC | License Plate Display Requirements
Vehicle Code 5201 CVC | Failure to Attach or Display a License Plate
Vehicle Code 5204 CVC | Failure to Attach Registration Tabs
Vehicle Code 10501 VC | False Reports of Auto Theft
Vehicle Code 10750 VC | Altering, Changing or Destroying a VIN
Vehicle Code 10752 VC | Illegal Possession or Sale of a VIN
Vehicle Code 10801 VC | Operating a Chop Shop
Vehicle Code 10802 VC | Tampering With a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Vehicle Code 10803 VC | Buying or Possessing Vehicles with Altered VIN Numbers
Vehicle Code 10851 VC | Unlawful Taking or Driving of a Vehicle
Vehicle Code 10852 VC | Tampering with a Motor Vehicle
Vehicle Code 10853 VC | Malicious Mischief to a Vehicle
Vehicle Code 12500 VC | Driving without a License
Vehicle Code 12951 VC | Failure to Present a Driver’s License
Vehicle Code 13004 VC | Unlawful Use of ID Cards
Vehicle Code 13004.1 VC | Possession or Manufacture of Counterfeit ID Cards
Vehicle Code 13202.5 VC | Loss of Drivers License for Minors Convicted of Crimes
Vehicle Code 13210 CVC | Road Rage License Suspension
Vehicle Code 13365.2 VC | Drivers License Suspension After a Hold
Vehicle Code 14601 (a) VC | Driving on a Suspended License
Vehicle Code 14601.2 VC | Driving on a License Suspended Because of DUI
Vehicle Code 14601.3 VC | Habitual Traffic Offenders
Vehicle Code 14601.4 VC | Driving on a Suspended License Causing Injury
Vehicle Code 14601.5 VC | Driving on a License Suspended from DUI Refusal or Excess BAC
Vehicle Code 14603 VC | Terms and Conditions of Restricted Licenses
Vehicle Code 14610 VC | Unlawful Use of a Drivers License
Vehicle Code 16028(a) VC | Proof of Financial Responsibility
Vehicle Code 16056 VC | Minimum Automobile Insurance
Vehicle Code 17707 VC | Parent Liability for Minor’s Accidents
Vehicle Code 20001 (a) VC | Felony Hit & Run
Vehicle Code 20002 (a) VC | Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Vehicle Code 21200 VC | Bicycle Rider Laws
Vehicle Code 21200.5 VC | Cycling Under the Influence
Vehicle Code 21209 VC | Driving on a Bike Lane
Vehicle Code 21453 VC | Red Light Violations
Vehicle Code 21460 VC | Crossing Double Parallel Lines
Vehicle Code 21461a VC | Duty to Obey Traffic Signs
Vehicle Code 21464 VC | Defacing or Interfering with a Traffic Control Device
Vehicle Code 21650 CVC | Right-Hand Lane Violation
Vehicle Code 21651 (a) VC | Crossing a Divided Highway
Vehicle Code 21651 (b) VC | Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road
Vehicle Code 21654 CVC | Driving Too Slowly Not on the Right
Vehicle Code 21655.5 VC | Carpool Violations
Vehicle Code 21658 CVC | Lane Straddling
Vehicle Code 21659 VC | Unsafe Driving on a Three-lane Highway
Vehicle Code 21663 VC | Driving on the Sidewalk
Vehicle Code 21702 VC | Driving Time Limits for Bus & Truck Drivers
Vehicle Code 21703 VC | Tailgating (Following too Closely)
Vehicle Code 21709 VC | Driving Through a Safety Zone
Vehicle Code 21710 CVC | Coasting in Neutral
Vehicle Code 21712 VC | Unlawful Riding in a Vehicle
Vehicle Code 21750 VC | Unsafe Passing
Vehicle Code 21751 VC | Passing Without Sufficient Clearance
Vehicle Code 21755 CVC | Unsafe Passing on the Right
Vehicle Code 21800 – 21804 VC | Failure to Yield
Vehicle Code 21801 CVC | Failure to Yield on a Left or U-Turn
Vehicle Code 21804 VC | Entering a Highway from an Alley or Driveway
Vehicle Code 21806 VC | Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle
Vehicle Code 21950 VC | Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian
Vehicle Code 21954 CVC | Pedestrians Outside Crosswalks
Vehicle Code 21955 VC | Jaywalking
Vehicle Code 22100 VC | Right and Left-Hand Turns
Vehicle Code 22100.5 VC | Illegal U-Turns
Vehicle Code 22102 CVC | Illegal U-turn in Business District
Vehicle Code 22108 VC | Failure to Signal
Vehicle Code 22109 | Suddenly Stopping Without Signaling
Vehicle Code 22106 CVC | Unsafe Starting or Backing
Vehicle Code 22107 VC | Unsafe Lane Changes
Vehicle Code 22348b VC | Driving Over 100 MPH on the Freeway
Vehicle Code 22349 a VC | Speeding Over 65 Miles Per Hour
Vehicle Code 22349 b VC | Speeding Over 55 Miles Per Hour
Vehicle Code 22350 VC | Basic Speeding Law
Vehicle Code 22352 VC | Prima Facie Speed Limits
Vehicle Code 22354 VC | Excessive Speed on Freeway
Vehicle Code 22356 VC | Speeding Over 70 MPH
Vehicle Code 22362 VC | Speeding in a Construction Zone
Vehicle Code 22400 VC | Driving too Slowly
Vehicle Code 22405 VC | Speeding on a Bridge or Tunnel
Vehicle Code 22406 VC | Trucks Speeding Over 55 MPH
Vehicle Code 22454 VC | Illegal Passing of School Buses
Vehicle Code 22450 VC | Running a Stop Sign
Vehicle Code 22500 CVC | Improper Parking, Stopping or Standing
Vehicle Code 22651 | Circumstances in which removal permitted (Impoundment)
Vehicle Code 23103 VC | Reckless Driving
Vehicle Code 23104 VC | Reckless Driving Causing Injury
Vehicle Code 23105 VC | Reckless Driving Causing Serious Injury
Vehicle Code 23109(a) VC | Engaging in a Speed Contest
Vehicle Code 23110 VC | Throwing Objects at a Motor Vehicle
Vehicle Code 23123 & 23123.5 VC | Driving with Cell Phone Tickets
Vehicle Code 23124 VC | Minors Driving with Cell Phone Tickets
Vehicle Code 23127 VC | Unauthorized Driving on Trails or Paths
Vehicle Code 23136 VC | Underage DUI
Vehicle Code 23140 VC | Under 21 DUI
Vehicle Code 23152 (a) VC | Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Vehicle Code 23152 (b) VC | Driving with a BAC of 0.08% or greater
Vehicle Code 23152 (c) VC | Driving While Addicted to a Drug
Vehicle Code 23152 (d) VC | DUI & Commercial Drivers License
Vehicle Code 23152 (e) VC | DUI by Taxi, Limo or Ride-Sharing Drivers
Vehicle Code 23152 (f) VC | Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
Vehicle Code 23152(g) VC | Driving Under the Combined Influence of Drugs and Alcohol
Vehicle Code 23153 VC | DUI with Injury
Vehicle Code 23221 VC | Drinking Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle
Vehicle Code 23222(b) VC | Possession of Marijuana While Driving
Vehicle Code 23224 VC | Possession of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle by a Person Under 21
Vehicle Coe 23247(e) VC – Ignition Interlock Device Violations
Vehicle Code 23540 VC | Second DUI Within 10 Years
Vehicle Code 23550 VC | 4th-Time DUI
Vehicle Code 23572 VC | DUI & Minor Passenger Under 14
Vehicle Code 23573 & 23575 VC | Ignition Interlock Devices
Vehicle Code 23578 | Additional DUI Penalty for High BAC or Refusal
Vehicle Code 23582 VC | DUI & Additional Penalty for Speeding and Reckless Driving
Vehicle Code 23612 VC | Blood or Breath Test Requirement After DUI Arrest
Vehicle Code 24002 VC | Operating an Unsafe or Unlawfully Equipped Vehicle
Vehicle Code 24250 VC | Driving in Darkness Without Headlights
Vehicle Code 24409 VC | Failure to Dim High Beams
Vehicle Code 26708 VC | Window Tinting
Vehicle Code 27315 VC | Seatbelt Laws
Vehicle Code 27360 VC | Child Restraint System Requirements
Vehicle Code 27360.5 | Use of Child Passenger Restraint System for Child Between 8 and 16
Vehicle Code 27400 VC | Driving with Headsets or Earphones
Vehicle Code 27465b CVC | Bald Tire Violation
Vehicle Code 27803 VC | Riding a Motorcycle Without a Helmet
Vehicle Code 34506 VC | Failure to Comply with CHP Rules by a Commercial Vehicle
Vehicle Code 35400 CVC | Vehicle Excessive Length
Vehicle Code 35551 VC | Overweight Vehicles
Vehicle Code 38300 CVC | Disobeying a Sign, Signal or Traffic Control Device
Vehicle Code 40302 | Arrests for Traffic Violations
Vehicle Code 40508 VC | Failure to Appear
Vehicle Code 40509.5 VC | Hold on Drivers License
Vehicle Code 40515 VC | Failure to Appear on Infractions
Vehicle Code 40801 VC | Speed Traps
Vehicle Code 42002.1 VC | Failure to Submit to Inspection
Vehicle Code 42002.5 VC | Tampering with the Vehicle of a Disabled Person