Since 1913, the State of California has had laws regulating the use of motor vehicles. By the 1930s the rules became so complex that they needed to be codified into their own book of statutes, and the California Vehicle Code was born.
The California Vehicle Code contains all laws relating to motor vehicles, including DUI laws. All drivers are required to know the major rules of the code before they can receive a driver’s license, but there are many smaller rules that you might have never heard about.
A sign for the California Highway Patrol. The California Vehicle Code contains the vehicle-related rules they enforce, including DUI.
What’s in the California Vehicle Code?
The Vehicle Code includes all of the laws relating to DUI in California. Other topics covered by the Vehicle Code include:
- Traffic laws and penalties for violating them
- Criminal laws (including DUI), such as vehicle theft, reckless driving, etc.
- Regulations for vehicle registration and driver’s licenses
- The rules governing the State DMV
- The rules governing the California Highway Patrol
The Vehicle Code is complicated and difficult to interpret without legal training. Many sections are administrative and only a few relate directly to DUI. But of those, there are multiple codes defining different types of DUI.
DUI in the California Vehicle Code
We have pulled together the most important DUI laws from the California Vehicle Code and explain each one in layman’s terms. There are also some rules from the California Penal Code that may affect you if you’re charged or convicted of DUI.
You can be convicted because you were “over the legal limit” of .08 BAC, or you can be convicted even if you were within the legal limit if you were clearly intoxicated. Other DUIs specify special penalties or restrictions for drivers under 21, commercial drivers, and individuals with previous DUIs or on DUI probation.
Why Is the California Vehicle Code Important for My DUI Case?
The California Vehicle Code contains the laws that the state enforces. Everyone must comply with those rules, and not all of them relate to drivers. Police and prosecutors also have rules they must follow to get a conviction and some of them are in the code.
Judges also use the code to see whether or not a law is broken. Your lawyer’s job is to persuade the judge that there isn’t enough cause to meet the legal standards for your kind of DUI. If the prosecution cannot convict you based on those standards then you could avoid conviction.
What to Do When You Are Charged with DUI
Have you been charged with DUI? We can connect you with an experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer and get you a FREE consultation. Fill out the form to the right or call us to get your free consultation today.
