California’s Vehicle Code sets the rules for everything from speed and phone use to DUI, insurance, and equipment, and the penalties range from fines under $200 to multi-year license suspensions and jail. One recent change catches many drivers off guard: the minimum liability insurance limits jumped on January 1, 2025, so if your policy hasn’t renewed since then, your coverage may already be below what the law requires. The sections below walk through the California Vehicle Code rules and penalties most likely to affect an ordinary driver.
Speed Limits and the Basic Speed Law
Vehicle Code 22350 says you can never drive faster than is reasonable for current weather, visibility, and traffic, no matter what the sign reads.1California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 22350 – Basic Speed Law Going the posted limit through heavy fog or on a rain-slicked road can still be a citation.
Most freeways are posted at 65 mph, with some rural stretches at 70. Two-lane undivided highways default to 55 mph. Residential and business districts default to 25 mph. Driving over 100 mph is treated as its own category: a first offense carries a fine of up to $500 and up to a 30-day license suspension at the court’s discretion.2California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 22348 – Speed Laws A second conviction within three years raises the fine to $750 and makes the suspension mandatory.
Stop Signs, Red Lights, and Pedestrians
A stop means a complete stop, at the limit line if one is marked, or before the crosswalk if not.3California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 22450 – Stop Requirements The “California rolling stop” is a nickname, not a legal maneuver. At red lights, stop before the limit line and stay there until green; a right turn on red is allowed after a complete stop unless signage prohibits it.4California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 21453 – Circular Red or Red Arrow Signal Left turns on red are legal only from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
Drivers must yield to pedestrians in any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, and must slow down or do whatever else is needed to keep the pedestrian safe.5California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 21950 – Right-of-Way at Crosswalks Fines for pedestrian right-of-way violations climb quickly once court assessments are added on top of the base fine.
Phones and Distracted Driving
Holding a phone while driving is illegal. Vehicle Code 23123 allows wireless phone use only in hands-free mode.6California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 23123 – Driving With Wireless Telephone Drivers under 18 can’t use a wireless phone or electronic communication device at all, hands-free or not.7California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 23124 – Minors Wireless Telephone Use
Vehicle Code 23123.5 covers everything else you might do on the screen. A single tap or swipe is allowed, but only if the phone is mounted on the dashboard, center console, or windshield; anything more while the phone is in your hand is a violation.8California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 23123.5 – Driving Offenses
A first phone violation runs a minimum of $162 after mandatory assessments.9California Highway Patrol. Distracted Driving – It’s Not Worth It Officers can stop you for the phone alone. And “driving” includes brief stops: in People v. Nelson (2011), an appeals court upheld a citation for phone use at a red light.10FindLaw. People v. Nelson (2011)
DUI, BAC Limits, and Reckless Driving
Vehicle Code 23152 makes it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher.11California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 23152 – Driving Under the Influence Commercial drivers hit the limit at 0.04 percent. Drivers under 21 face a near-zero standard under Vehicle Code 23136: 0.01 percent is enough.12California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 23136 – Persons Under 21 With BAC of 0.01 or Greater
A first DUI for an adult 21 or older with no injuries brings a six- or ten-month license suspension from the DMV. If the BAC was over 0.20 percent, the court can impose a ten-month suspension plus a nine-month DUI program.13California Department of Motor Vehicles. DUI First Offenders – Alcohol Involved, Non-Injury Jail, fines, and mandatory alcohol education are also on the table. Repeat offenders face longer suspensions and must install an ignition interlock device that requires a clean breath test before the engine will start.
By driving in California, you’ve already consented to a chemical test if arrested for DUI. Vehicle Code 23612 lets you pick between breath and blood, but refusing both adds separate penalties on top of the DUI case.14California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 23612 – Implied Consent Drug-impaired driving cases require a blood draw.
Reckless driving under Vehicle Code 23103 is driving with willful disregard for the safety of people or property. A conviction brings five to 90 days in county jail, a fine between $145 and $1,000, or both; penalties increase when the reckless driving causes injury.15California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 23103 – Reckless Driving
Seatbelts and Child Restraints
Everyone 16 or older in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt on the highway, and officers can stop you for a seatbelt violation alone.16California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 27315 – Motor Vehicle Safety Act
Children under 8 must ride in the rear in a federally approved child restraint.17California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 27360 – Child Safety Belt and Passenger Restraint Requirements Children under 2 must be rear-facing unless they weigh at least 40 pounds or stand at least 40 inches tall.
Insurance Minimums and Registration
Every vehicle on California roads must be registered with the DMV and display plates on front and rear, unless only one plate was issued (then it goes on the back).18California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 4000 – Registration Required19California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 5200 – Display of Plates, Tabs, and Stickers Enforcement for expired registration generally kicks in after the second month past expiration, but an unregistered vehicle can be impounded at a traffic stop for a separate violation.
For any auto policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, California’s minimum liability limits are $30,000 for injury or death of one person, $60,000 for injury or death of two or more, and $15,000 for property damage.20California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 16056 – Evidence of Financial Responsibility The older $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 limits still technically apply to policies that haven’t been renewed since the change, but by 2026 most drivers will be on the new numbers. Check your declarations page if you’re not sure which limits you carry.
Driving without insurance and being in an accident triggers at least a one-year license suspension under Vehicle Code 16070, and you have to file proof of insurance to get the license back.21California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 16070 – Suspensions After reinstatement, proof of financial responsibility stays on file with the DMV for three years.22California Department of Motor Vehicles. Financial Responsibility (Insurance) Low-income drivers can look at California’s Low-Cost Auto Insurance Program.
Carpool Lanes and Clean Air Decals
HOV lanes are restricted to vehicles meeting the occupancy posted on signage during the posted hours, usually two people but three on some Los Angeles corridors like parts of I-10 and I-110.23California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 21655.5 – Exclusive or Preferential Use of Highway Lanes Solo drivers caught in a carpool lane can pay up to $490 after assessments.
Electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and other qualifying clean-fuel vehicles can use HOV lanes solo if they display a valid Clean Air Vehicle decal from the DMV.24California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 5205.5 – Display of Decals for Clean Air Vehicles The decals are color-coded by model year and expire, so confirm yours is still valid before relying on it. Forging a Clean Air Sticker is punishable under Vehicle Code 4463, with fines starting at $100 for a first offense and reaching $1,000 by a third.25California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 4463 – False Evidences of Registration
Equipment: Lights, Mirrors, and Exhaust
Non-motorcycle vehicles need at least two headlamps, one on each side of the front. Headlamps have to be on during darkness and in inclement weather, which the code defines as conditions where you can’t see another vehicle from 1,000 feet or where your wipers need to run continuously.26California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 24400 – Headlamps
If cargo blocks your rear window, you need mirrors on both sides giving a view at least 200 feet behind you. Passengers blocking the rear view don’t trigger this.27California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 26709 – Mirrors
Aftermarket exhaust is a frequent citation. For vehicles under 6,000 pounds gross weight (excluding motorcycles), the exhaust system can’t exceed 95 decibels.28California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 27151 – Exhaust Systems Starting in January 2019, exhaust noise stopped being a correctable “fix-it” ticket. Instead of 30 days to come into compliance, you get an immediate fine.
Points, Suspensions, and Other Ways to Lose Your License
The DMV runs a point system for moving violations. Most convictions add one point; serious offenses like DUI, reckless driving, and hit-and-run add two. Four points in 12 months, six in 24, or eight in 36 makes you a presumed negligent operator and exposes you to suspension.29California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 12810.5 – Negligent Operator You can request a hearing before the DMV suspends under this system, and Class A or B license holders may be allowed a higher point count in some circumstances.30California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver Negligence
DUI convictions carry their own suspension track. Vehicle Code 13352 requires the DMV to suspend or revoke the license of anyone convicted of DUI or alcohol-related reckless driving, with length depending on prior convictions.31California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 13352 – Suspension and Revocation by Department Missing a court date on a traffic ticket or ignoring a court-ordered fine can also put a hold or suspension on your license.
Child support arrears will do it too. Under Family Code 17520, the local child support agency keeps a list of parents more than 30 days behind, and the DMV suspends their driving privileges until they come into compliance.32California Legislative Information. California Family Code 17520 – Child Support Enforcement
Medical conditions are another route. Vehicle Codes 12806 and 12809 let the DMV refuse to issue or renew a license when a physical or mental condition makes safe driving impossible.33California Department of Motor Vehicles. Evaluating Driver Impairment Physicians are required to report patients diagnosed with disorders involving lapses of consciousness, and those reports trigger a DMV re-evaluation that can mean a medical exam, a behind-the-wheel test, or a hearing.