What are 10 lesser known California driving laws?

Like any state, California and the municipalities within it have certain laws on the books that may be a surprise to some residents. It is important to drive safely and adhere to driving rules, and some of these lesser known driving laws may come into play if you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle collision. As personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles, our work most often revolves around more commonly known rules like restrictions on distracted driving and vehicle speed, however, we also encounter a wide variety of laws that are less commonly enforced. 

Whether we are dealing with a broadly or less known law, the heart of our work is the same – our team of experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorneys understands the extreme toll that a car accident can take both financially and emotionally. 

When you suffer a car crash, you deserve financial compensation for the injuries and damages you endure. Contact our team today for a free case evaluation.

10 Obscure California Driving Rules

It is perhaps unlikely that these driving laws will come into play in your day-to-day life, but for those who would like to know every driving law that California has to offer, 10 obscure California driving laws include:

1. 55 mph Speed Limit While Towing. Trucks that are towing while exceeding 55 mph are speeding in California, which can be a key factor in establishing liability in personal injury cases. It is a common misconception that this rule applies only where signs clarify it – this speed limit is state-wide. 
2. No Spilling Salt on the Pavement in Hermosa Beach. Hermosa Beach’s code regarding property offenses specifies that salt may not be spilled on the road. 
3. You May Not Keep Your Car in Your Apartment in San Francisco. City law specifies that automobiles may not be stored in apartments, houses, or hotels in most cases.
4. No Hunting From a Moving Vehicle. It is illegal for Californians to hunt from a car in motion. 
5. No Coasting Downhill. You may not shift into neutral when going down a hill.
6. No Parking in Front of Driveways, Even Your Own. It may seem unfair, but you may not block your own driveway in California. 
7. You May Only Honk When Reasonably Necessary. It is a common unlawful practice to use a vehicle’s horn to express frustration, but California code dictates that it should only be used as reasonably necessary. Excessive and unnecessary horn use is a nuisance and can obscure sounds that are important for other drivers to hear.
8. No Unsecured Animals in Truck Beds. There are exceptions for vehicles with high walls around truck beds, but the law is generally clear that animals in truck beds must be secured or in a mobile enclosure. 
9. No Excessively Slow Driving. California law states that “No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation.”
10. Motorcycle Handlebar Height Limitations. Despite the popularity of aftermarket elevated handlebar modifications, they limit visibility and are illegal. Handlebars may not be above the shoulders of the vehicle operator. 

Ignorance of the law does not excuse drivers from following the law. Even if these laws are less commonly known, if a violation of one of them gives rise to an accident, the driver in violation may have increased liability. Determining liability is at the heart of recovering financial compensation for our deserving clients. Being in a car crash is a traumatizing experience and it can be hard to take the courageous step of initiating legal action. The sooner you act, however, the more options you will have. 

Our team of experienced personal injury lawyers understands that when you are in a car crash that was not your fault, you need and deserve financial relief. Contact us today if you need to speak with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

Call or text 310-844-9696 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form