Some noteworthy California Driving Law

This post is for my wife as she got couple of tickets based on following. Hope she read here.

Disclaimer: these are paraphrased, and therefore may be wrong. If you need to know exactly what the law says, please look it up!

• both license plates issued for a vehicle must be displayed [CVC 5200]
• a seller of a vehicle has 5 days to notify the DMV of the sale [CVC 5900]
• a new owner must apply to the DMV for transfer of registration within 10 days [CVC 5902]
• an accident must be reported within 10 days to the DMV in Sacramento if there is death, bodily injury, or property damage > $500 [CVC 16000]
• U-turns are permitted on any green light unless signs prohibit[CVC 21451]
• a driver may not stop IN the crosswalk for a red light [CVC 21453(a)]
• right turn on circular red (not a red arrow!), and left turn on circular red from a one-way street onto a one-way street, are permitted after stopping and unless otherwise posted [CVC 21453(b)]
• a driver may not turn against a red arrow for the indicated turn regardless of signals shown for other movements [CVC 21453(c)]
• curb markings [CVC 21458}:
  red: no stopping, standing, or parking
  yellow: stopping only for loading or unloading passengers or freight
  white: loading/unloading passengers, or depositing mail in adjacent box
  green: time limit parking specified by local ordinance
  blue: handicap parking
• a double parallel solid line may be crossed to make a left or U-turn, or turn into or out of a driveway or private road [CVC 21460]
• a two-way left-turn lane may only be used to prepare for and make a left turn or permitted U-turn from or into a highway; a vehicle shall not be driven in that lane for more than 200 feet [CVC 21460.5(c)]
• a _pair_ of double parallel solid lines may not be crossed [CVC 21651(a)]
• a U-turn can be made wherever a left turn can be made on a divided highway [CVC 21651(a)(2)], although see references to 22102-3 below
• notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, a vehicle driven at less than the normal speed of traffic must be driven in the right-hand laneexcept when passing or preparing for a left turn [CVC 21654]
• motorcycles can make use of high occupancy lanes unless explicitly prohibited by traffic control devices [CVC 21655.5]
• the descending vehicle shall yield to the ascending vehicle on a grade if the roadway is of insufficient width for both [CVC 21661]
• when preparing to turn, you must drive into a bicycle lane, if one, no more than 200 feet from the intersection [CVC 21717]
• pedestrians have right-of-way in crosswalks, but pedestrians shall not walk or run into the path of a vehicle [CVC 21950]
• right turns must be made into the rightmost lane except when turning from a terminating highway with three or more lanes or from a one-way highway at an intersection [CVC 22100(a)]
• left turns may be made into any available lane [CVC 22100(b)]
• U-turns must be made from the two-way left turn lane, if one, or leftmost lane otherwise [CVC 22100.5, 22102]
• U-turns are prohibited in a business district except at intersections or through openings in a divided roadway [CVC 22102]
• U-turns are permitted in a residential district only if no vehicle approaching is closer than 200 feet or where protected by sign or signal [CVC 22103]
• turn signals are required for turns and lane changes which may affect any other vehicle [CVC 22107]
• signals are required during the last 100 feet before turning [CVC 22108]
• vehicles shall be stopped or parked, where permitted, with the right-hand wheels within 18 inches of the right-hand curb; if no curbs, right-hand parallel parking is required unless otherwise indicated [CVC 22502(a)]
• it is unlawful to drive a vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug [CVC 23152(a)]
• it is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle [CVC 23152(b)]
• During darkness, lights shall not project glaring rays into the eyes of oncoming drivers when approaching within 500 feet. The use of low beams shall be deemed to avoid glare regardless of road contour. Low beam headlamps shall be used when following another vehicle within 300 feet. In all cases, foglamps and/or auxiliary passing lamps may be used with low beams if they are aimed so as to avoid projecting glaring rays into the eyes of oncoming drivers. [CVC 24403-9]
• The operator of a private motor vehicle is responsible for the use of seat belts by him/herself and all passengers 4 years of age or over [CVC 27315(d)]; in addition, passengers 16 years of age or over are responsible for their own seat belt use [CVC 27315(e)]. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $20 for the first offense and $50 thereafter [CVC 27315(h)].
• you can be stopped and ticketed for _not_ wearing your seat belt - currently, you can only be ticketed if the officer stopped you for another infraction, then noticed that you were not
  wearing your seatbelt.
• a passenger seat restraint must be used for children under 4 [CVC 27360]
• there doesn't appear to be a law giving right-of-way to either party in a merge onto a freeway, although the Spring 1991 DMV California Driver Handbook states "Freeway traffic has the right of way." [p. 48].
• there is no law specifically prohibiting a lane change in the middle of an intersecting. There is no section in the CVC specifically outlawing a lane change in the middle of an intersection. HOWEVER, many revenue ... uh, law officers will ticket you under the blanket section generally known as "Unsafe Lane Change" [CVC 21658(a)].
  
• there appears to be no maximum permitted number of lane changes per mile, although CVC 22108 does require one to signal at least 100 feet before executing a lane change