Michael Elliott <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<MPG.18527ac9e3e04b22989690@nntp>...
>
> Anyone conversant with California law? Uniform Vehicle Code laws? If you can pull the relevant
> sections out and e-mail them to me, I'll create a couple of credit-card sized layout .pdfs and
> make them available for download.
CALIFORNIA CODES VEHICLE CODE SECTION 21200-21212
21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all
the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division, including, but
not limited to, provisions concerning driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages
or drugs, and by Division 10 (commencing with Section
21201), Section 27400, Division 16.7 (commencing with Section 39000), Division 17 (commencing with
Section 40000.1), and Division 18 (commencing with Section 42000), except those provisions
which by their very nature can have no application.
(b) (1) Any peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of
Part 2 of the Penal Code, operating a bicycle during the course of his or her duties is
exempt from the requirements of subdivision (a), except as those requirements relate to
driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, if the bicycle is being
operated under any of the following circumstances:
(c) In response to an emergency call.
(d) While engaged in rescue operations.
(e) In the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.
(2) This subdivision does not relieve a peace officer from the duty to operate a bicycle with
due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
2.1. Notwithstanding Section 21200, it is unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle upon a highway
while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug, or under the combined
influence of an alcoholic beverage and any drug. Any person arrested for a violation of this
section may request to have a chemical test made of the person's blood, breath, or urine for
the purpose of determining the alcoholic or drug content of that person's blood pursuant to
Section 23612, and, if so requested, the arresting officer shall have the test performed. A
conviction of a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than two
hundred fifty dollars ($250). Violations of this section are subject to Section
2.2.
21201. (a) No person shall operate a bicycle on a roadway unless it is equipped with a brake which
will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(b) No person shall operate on the highway any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that
the operator must elevate his hands above the level of his shoulders in order to grasp the
normal steering grip area.
(c) No person shall operate upon any highway a bicycle which is of such a size as to prevent the
operator from safely stopping the bicycle, supporting it in an upright position with at least
one foot on the ground, and restarting it in a safe manner.
(d) Every bicycle operated upon any highway during darkness shall be equipped (1) with a lamp
emitting a white light which, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway in
front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides
of the bicycle; (2) with a red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from a distance
of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor
vehicle; (3) with a white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from the front and rear
of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet; and (4) with a white or yellow reflector on each
side forward of the center of the bicycle, and with a white or red reflector on each side to
the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles which are equipped with
reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side
reflectors. Such reflectors and reflectorized tires shall be of a type meeting requirements
established by the department.
(e) A lamp or lamp combination, emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from
a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle, may be used in lieu of the
lamp required by clause (1) of subdivision (d).
21201.3. (a) A bicycle or motorized bicycle used by a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1
of, subdivision (a), (b), (c),
(d), (e), (f), (g), or (i) of Section 830.2 of, subdivision (b) or
(e) of Section 830.31 of, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 830.32 of, Section 830.33 of,
subdivision (a) of Section 830.36 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.4 of, or Section 830.6 of,
the Penal Code, in the performance of the peace officer's duties, may display a steady or
flashing blue warning light that is visible from the front, sides, or rear of the bicycle or
motorized bicycle.
(f) No person shall display a steady or flashing blue warning light on a bicycle or motorized
bicycle except as authorized under subdivision (a).
21201.3. (b) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, a reflex reflector or reflectorized tire of a
type required on a bicycle unless it meets requirements established by the department.
If there exists a federal Consumer Product Safety Commission regulation applicable to
bicycle reflectors, the provisions of that regulation shall prevail over provisions of
this code or requirements established by the department pursuant to this code relative
to bicycle reflectors.
(b) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, a new bicycle that is not equipped with a red
reflector on the rear, a white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from the front and
rear of the bicycle, a white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the
bicycle, and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle,
except that bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and rear need
not be equipped with these side reflectors.
(c) Area reflectorizing material meeting the requirements of Section 25500 may be used on
a bicycle.
21201. (b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of
traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to
the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
(21202) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
(21203) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(21204) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or
moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard
width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject
to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width
lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by
side within the lane.
(21205) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in
one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand
curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.
21203. No person riding upon any motorcycle, motorized bicycle, bicycle, coaster, roller skates,
sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any streetcar or vehicle on the roadway.
21201. (c) No person operating a bicycle upon a highway shall ride other than upon or astride a
permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
(b) No operator shall allow a person riding as a passenger, and no person shall ride as a
passenger, on a bicycle upon a highway other than upon or astride a separate seat attached
thereto. If the passenger is four years of age or younger, or weighs 40 pounds or less, the
seat shall have adequate provision for retaining the passenger in place and for protecting
the passenger from the moving parts of the bicycle.
21205. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the
operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
21206. This chapter does not prevent local authorities, by ordinance, from regulating the
registration of bicycles and the parking and operation of bicycles on pedestrian or bicycle
facilities, provided such regulation is not in conflict with the provisions of this code.
21201. (d) This chapter does not prohibit local authorities from establishing, by ordinance or
resolution, bicycle lanes separated from any vehicular lanes upon highways, other than
state highways as defined in Section 24 of the Streets and Highways Code and county
highways established pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section
21202) of Chapter 9 of Division 2 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(b) Bicycle lanes established pursuant to this section shall be constructed in compliance with
Section 891 of the Streets and Highways Code.
2.3. Notwithstanding Sections 21207 and 23127 of this code, or any other provision of law, no
motorized bicycle may be operated on a bicycle path or trail, bikeway, bicycle lane
established pursuant to Section 21207, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail,
unless it is within or adjacent to a roadway or unless the local authority or the governing
body of a public agency having jurisdiction over such path or trail permits, by ordinance,
such operation.
21208. (a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207, any
person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of
traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride within the bicycle lane,
except that the person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations:
(21209) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane
or about to enter the lane if the overtaking and passing cannot be done safely
within the lane.
(21210) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(21211) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous
conditions.
(21212) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with
reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in
Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 22100) in the event that any vehicle may be affected by
the movement.
21208. (b) No person shall drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane established on a roadway
pursuant to Section 21207 except as follows:
(21209) To park where parking is permitted.
(21210) To enter or leave the roadway.
(21211) To prepare for a turn within a distance of 200 feet from the intersection.
(b) This section does not prohibit the use of a motorized bicycle in a bicycle lane, pursuant to
Section 21207.5, at a speed no greater than is reasonable or prudent, having due regard for
visibility, traffic conditions, and the condition of the roadway surface of the bicycle lane,
and in a manner which does not endanger the safety of bicyclists.
21210. No person shall leave a bicycle lying on its side on any sidewalk, or shall park a bicycle on
a sidewalk in any other position, so that there is not an adequate path for pedestrian traffic.
Local authorities may, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit bicycle parking in designated areas of
the public highway, provided that appropriate signs are erected.
21208. (c) No person may stop, stand, sit, or loiter upon any class I bikeway, as defined in
subdivision (a) of Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public
or private bicycle path or trail, if the stopping, standing, sitting, or loitering
impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of any bicyclist.
(b) No person may place or park any bicycle, vehicle, or any other object upon any bikeway or
bicycle path or trail, as specified in subdivision (a), which impedes or blocks the normal
and reasonable movement of any bicyclist unless the placement or parking is necessary for
safe operation or is otherwise in compliance with the law.
(c) This section does not apply to drivers or owners of utility or public utility vehicles, as
provided in Section 22512.
(d) This section does not apply to owners or drivers of vehicles who make brief stops while
engaged in the delivery of newspapers to customers along the person's route.
(e) This section does not apply to the driver or owner of a rubbish or garbage truck while
actually engaged in the collection of rubbish or garbage within a business or residence
district if the front turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed
simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed
simultaneously.
(f) This section does not apply to the driver or owner of a tow vehicle while actually engaged in
the towing of a vehicle if the front turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being
flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being
flashed simultaneously.
21208. (d) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, or ride upon a bicycle as a
passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and
Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a
properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 bicycle helmet standard), the Snell Memorial
Foundation's Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling, or the American
Society for Testing Materials (ASTM F-1447 standard). This requirement also applies to a
person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the
bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.
(b) Any helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and passengers of bicycles shall be
conspicuously labeled in accordance with the standard described in subdivision (a) which
shall constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable
safety standards.
(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by an operator or passenger of a bicycle any
safety helmet which is not of a type meeting requirements established by this section.
(d) Any charge under this subdivision shall be dismissed when the person charged alleges in
court, under oath, that the charge against the person is the first charge against that person
under this subdivision, unless it is otherwise established in court that the charge is not
the first charge against the person.
(e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction
punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25). The parent or legal guardian
having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall
be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to
this subdivision.
(f) Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other provision of law, the fines
collected for a violation of this section shall be allocated as follows:
(1) Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in a special
account of the county health department, to be used for bicycle safety education and for
assisting low-income families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for children under
the age of 18 years, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may contract for the
implementation of this program, which, to the extent practicable, shall be operated in
conjunction with the child passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.
(2) Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in the county
treasury to be used by the county to administer the program described in paragraph (1).
(3) If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the amount collected shall be
transferred to and deposited in the treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in
an unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used pursuant to
paragraph (1).
3.1. Whenever any person is arrested for any of the following offenses, the arresting officer shall
permit the arrested person to execute a notice containing a promise to correct the violation
in accordance with the provisions of Section 40610 unless the arresting officer finds that any
of the disqualifying conditions specified in subdivision (b) of Section 40610 exist:
(a) Any registration infraction set forth in Division 3 (commencing with Section 4000).
(b) Any driver's license infraction set forth in Division 6 (commencing with Section 12500), and
subdivision (a) of Section 12951, relating to possession of driver's license.
(c) Section 21201, relating to bicycle equipment.
(d) Any infraction involving equipment set forth in Division 12 (commencing with Section 24000),
Division 13 (commencing with Section
29000), Division 14.8 (commencing with Section 34500), Division 16 (commencing with Section
36000), Division 16.5 (commencing with Section 38000), and Division 16.7 (commencing with
Section 39000).
