CA Laws & Rules

Parking

*Turn front wheels:*
	Down Hill	Up Hill
Curb	Right	Left
No Curb	Right	Right

*Colored Curb*
White	Stop only to pick up or drop off passengers
Green	Park for limited posted time
Yellow	Stop only to pick up or drop off passengers or freight
Blue	Parking only for handicapped
Red	No parking, standing, stopping (except buses)

Illegal Parking

Where no parking sign
On marked or unmarked crosswalk, on a sidewalk, in fornt of a driveway
Within 3 ft of a sidewalk ramp for disabled persons or in front of or on a curb which provieds wheelchair access to a sidewalk
In a disabled person parking space or next to one that is cross hatched unless you are disable and display decal
In a space designated for parking or fueling zero-emission evehicles
In a tunnel or on a bridge, unless permitted by sign
Within 15 ft of of a fire hydrant
On or within 7.5 ft of a railroad track
Between a safety zone and the curb
Double parked
On the wrong side of the street
More than 18 in from curb
At a red curb
On a freeway, except in an emergency or when an officer or device requires a stop or where specifically permitted

Right of Way

Do not pass a car from behind that has stopped at a crosswalk - a pedestrian you can't see may be crossing.
Do not stop in a crosswalk.
Do not drive on a sidewalk, except to cross it in a driveway.
Yield to any pedestrian, especially if eye contact is made.
Pedestrians have right of way at corners under any circumstances.

Flashing Yellow	O	Warning, slow down, look
Steady Green	O	Go, but yield to pedestrians, bicylist, vehicles in the intersection.
Green Arrow	==>	Go, turn in direction of arrow, but yield as above.
Traffic Signal Out		Same as STOP sign.
Pedestrian Signal	WALK	Legal for pedestrians to cross.
Pedestrian Signal	DON'T WALK	Do not cross.

Signaling

Always signal: 100 ft before turning point, before leaving curb or parking, and >=5 sec before every lane change, when revesring direction - with blinkers or hand (if blinkers blocked by sun) even if no other vehicles present:

Left - arm left
Right - arm up (motor/bi-cyclists can have arm right)
Slow/Stop - arm down

Use mirrors and look over your shoulder and check blin spots.

Speed Limits

Basic Speed Law: - Never drive faster that is safe for current conditions. You may never drive faster than posted limit. Conditions depend on: number and speed of other vehicles on the road, road surface (smooth or rough or graveled, wet or dry, wide or narrow); presence of bicyclists or pedestrians; whether it is raining, foggy, snowing, windy, or dusty.

Maximum Speed Limit is usually 65 mph on freeways unless posted higher. On two-lane undivided highways and for vehicles towing trailers max is 55 mph. Within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing e.g. near playgrounds or parks wihout fences or residential areas the speed limit is 25 mph. When a school bus flshes red you must stop.

Speed limit for alleys or a blind intersection (you cannot see 100 ft in Neither direction during last 100 feet before crossing) is 15 mph. Speed limit is 15 mph for unmarked railroad crossings where you cannot see the tracks for 400 ft in both directions, unless the crossing is controlled by gates, a warning signal, or a flagman. Flasing red means stop 15 ft from nearest track.

Passing speed limit near stopped streetcars, trolleys, buses is 10 mph. Residential speed limit is 25 mph, unless posted otehrwise.

Traffic Lanes

Broken Yellow Line(s)	May pass over line(s)
Solid Yellow Line(s)	Mark center of two way traffic
Two Solid Yellow Lines	Means no passing unless: turning left at intersection, turning into or out of a private road or driveway, in a carpool lane with designated entrance on left, special signs because of road blockage.
Two sets of double Solid Yellow Lines >=2 ft apart	Same as a barrier do not cross, make left or U-turn
Solid or Broken White Lines	Mark traffic lanes i nsame direction

Legal U-Turns	Illegal U-turns
Across a double yellow line when it is safe.	On a divided highway by crossing a diving section, curb, strip or lands or two sets of double lines.
In a residential area: if no approaching vehicle is within 200 ft, or when a traffic sign or signal protects you from approaching vehicles.	Where you cannot clearly see 200 ft in each direction (because of hill, curve, rain, fog).
On a divided high way only if an opening is provided in the center divider.	Where "No U-Turn" is posted.
	When other vehicles may hit you.
	In front of a fire station.
	In business districts, areas with churches, multiple dwelling houses, clubs, and public buildings (except schools).

Traffic Signs

Extra Driving Rules

Do not drive vehicle so loaded with people or property that you cannot control it
Do not carry anything that sticks out more than 6 in beyond fenders on left or right
A load sticking out more than 4 ft from rear must have a 12 in red or flourescent orange square flag
Do not let anyone ride in place not intended for passengers
Do not let anyone ride in back of truck or pickup without seat and seatbelts
Do not carry an animal in rear of truck or pickup unless properly secured
Do not tow ayone on a bicycle, wagon, skates, sled, skis, or toy vehicle
Do not wear a headset over or earplugs in both ears
Do not wear glasses which prevent you from seeing clearly to the sides
Do not drive with a video monitor visible to the driver
Do not honk horn unless it is a safety warning
Do not block you view
Do not drive with tinted safety glass

You must:

On narrow mountain roads stay to right and honk horn if you cannot see at least 200 ft ahead
Use your headlights 30 min: after sunset or before sunrise
Dim your lights to low beams within 500 ft of an oncoming vehicle or within 300 ft of a vehicle you are following