The statutes that control California DUI cases
DUI in California is defined by Cal. Veh. Code § 23152, and the chemical-testing rules sit in Cal. Veh. Code § 23612. Both are published in the official state code at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, which is the only version that governs — summaries elsewhere, including ours, can lag amendments.
Statutory text, definitions, BAC thresholds and sentencing ranges.
What refusing a breath, blood or urine test costs you.
Statute at a glance
California DUI law at a glance
Sourced from the California code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DUI (California)
- Controlling statute
- Cal. Veh. Code § 23152
- Implied consent
- Cal. Veh. Code § 23612
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 10 days after arrest
- Prior-offense lookback
- 10 years
- First-offense fine
- $390–$1,000
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 6 months
- Licence suspension
- 6 months
- Ignition interlock
- Not automatic on a first offense
- Trial court
- the Superior Court
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 3 years
A first offense is a misdemeanor; the base fine is small next to court assessments and program costs.
First-offense exposure under Cal. Veh. Code § 23152: $390–$1,000, up to 6 months of jail exposure, and a 6 months licence suspension. A first offense is a misdemeanor; the base fine is small next to court assessments and program costs.
What Cal. Veh. Code § 23152 actually says
- Veh. Code § 23152(a) — driving a vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage.
- Veh. Code § 23152(b) — driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more by weight.
- Veh. Code § 23152(f) — driving under the influence of any drug.
- Veh. Code § 23152(g) — driving under the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any drug.
Charging documents cite the exact subsection, so check which one appears on your citation. The posted text on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov carries an effective date — amendments passed after it are not yet reflected.
California ZIP codes covered
These California ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
- 90068 — Los angeles
- 90201 — Bell gardens
- 90230 — Culver city
- 90249 — Gardena
- 90254 — Hermosa beach
- 90262 — Lynwood
- 91335 — Reseda
- 91402 — Panorama city
- 91702 — Azusa
- 91755 — Monterey park
- 91789 — Diamond bar
- 91902 — Bonita
- 92082 — Valley center
- 92139 — San diego
- 92223 — Beaumont
- 92258 — North palm sprin
- 92267 — Parker dam
- 92270 — Rancho mirage
- 92275 — Salton city
- 92281 — Westmorland
- 92309 — Baker
- 92310 — Fort irwin
- 92314 — Big bear city
- 92320 — Calimesa
Counties and cities using these California resources
Counties
- Amador County DUI guide
- Butte County DUI guide
- Calaveras County DUI guide
- Merced County DUI guide
- Modoc County DUI guide
- Riverside County DUI guide
- San Bernardino County DUI guide
- San Diego County DUI guide
- San Joaquin County DUI guide
- San Luis Obispo County DUI guide
- Sierra County DUI guide
- Sutter County DUI guide
Other California official resources
Frequently asked questions
- What statute defines DUI in California?
- Cal. Veh. Code § 23152 is the controlling DUI statute in California. You can read the current text on the official code site at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- What is the California implied-consent law?
- Cal. Veh. Code § 23612 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest.