ARTICLE 7. Sanctions [15300. - 15326.]

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 7.
in effect

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15300. Section 15300.

(a) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one year if the driver is convicted of a first violation of any of the following: (1) Subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 23152 while operating a motor vehicle. (2) Subdivision (d) of Section 23152. (3) Subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 23153 while operating a motor vehicle. (4) Subdivision (d) of Section 23153. (5) Leaving the scene of an accident involving a motor vehicle operated by the driver. (6) Using a motor vehicle to commit a felony, other than a felony described in Section 15304. (7) Driving a commercial motor vehicle when the driver’s commercial driver’s license is revoked, suspended, or canceled based on the driver’s operation of a commercial motor vehicle or when the driver is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle based on the driver’s operation of a commercial motor vehicle. (8) Causing a fatality involving conduct defined pursuant to Section 191.5 of the Penal Code or subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code. (9) While operating a motor vehicle, refuses to submit to, or fails to complete, a chemical test or tests in violation of Section 23612. (10) A violation of Section 2800.1, 2800.2, or 2800.3 that involves a commercial motor vehicle. (b) If a violation listed in subdivision (a), or a violation listed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 13350 or Section 13352 or 13357, occurred while transporting a hazardous material, the period specified in subdivision (a) shall be three years.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15301. Section 15301.

The Department of Motor Vehicles, in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal, shall develop regulations and procedures to temporarily suspend the commercial motor vehicle license of a person who is operating a commercial motor vehicle while transporting dangerous fireworks having a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more. A driver of a commercial motor vehicle shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for three years if the driver is convicted of transporting dangerous fireworks having a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15302. Section 15302.

A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for the rest of his or her life if convicted of more than one violation of any of the following: (a) Subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 23152 while operating a motor vehicle. (b) Subdivision (d) of Section 23152. (c) Subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 23153 while operating a motor vehicle. (d) Subdivision (d) of Section 23153. (e) Leaving the scene of an accident involving a motor vehicle operated by the driver. (f) Using a motor vehicle to commit a felony, other than a felony described in Section 15304. (g) Driving a commercial motor vehicle when the driver’s commercial driver’s license is revoked, suspended, or canceled based on the driver’s operation of a commercial motor vehicle or when the driver is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle based on the driver’s operation of a commercial motor vehicle. (h) Causing a fatality involving conduct defined pursuant to Section 191.5 of the Penal Code or in subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code. (i) While operating a motor vehicle, refuses to submit to, or fails to complete, a chemical test or tests in violation of Section 23612. (j) A violation of Section 2800.1, 2800.2, or 2800.3 that involves a commercial motor vehicle. (k) Any combination of the above violations or a violation listed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 13350 or Section 13352 or 13357 that occurred while transporting a hazardous material.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15303. Section 15303.

(a) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for the rest of their life if convicted of using a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving an act or practice of severe forms of human trafficking, as described in Section 7102 of Title 22 of the United States Code. (b) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for the rest of their life if convicted of Section 236.1 of the Penal Code while using a commercial motor vehicle.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15303.3. Section 15303.3.

Pursuant to Subpart E of Part 383 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle if the department receives notice from the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse that the driver is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle. The term for which a driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle shall remain in effect for the period specified by Subpart E of Part 383 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15303.5. Section 15303.5.

Pursuant to Subpart E of Part 383 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the department shall not issue, renew, or upgrade a commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license if the department receives notification from the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse that the driver is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15304. Section 15304.

(a) A driver may not operate a commercial motor vehicle for the rest of his or her life who uses a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing a controlled substance, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance. (b) This section shall become operative on September 20, 2005.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15306. Section 15306.

A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of 60 days if the person is convicted of a serious traffic violation involving a commercial or a noncommercial motor vehicle and the offense occurred within three years of a separate offense of a serious traffic violation that resulted in a conviction.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15308. Section 15308.

(a) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of 120 days if the person is convicted of a serious traffic violation involving a commercial or noncommercial motor vehicle and the offense occurred within three years of two or more separate offenses of serious traffic violations that resulted in convictions. (b) Notwithstanding Section 13366.5, the time period under subdivision (a) shall not commence until all existing suspensions or revocations of the commercial driving privilege have ended.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15309. Section 15309.

In addition to any other action taken under this code, no driver may operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of 60 days if the department determines, after a hearing, that the person falsified information on his or her application for a driver’s license in violation of the standards set forth in subpart J of part 383 or Section 383.71(a) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15309.5. Section 15309.5.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following: (1) Sell, offer for sale, distribute, or use a crib sheet or cribbing device, as defined in Section 273, that contains answers to any examination administered by the department for a commercial driver’s license or permit. (2) Impersonate or allow the impersonation of an applicant for a commercial driver’s license or permit for the purpose of fraudulently qualifying the applicant for a commercial driver’s license or permit. (3) Provide, or use, any unauthorized assistance during any examination administered by the department for a commercial driver’s license or permit. (b) A first conviction under this section is punishable as either an infraction or a misdemeanor, and the driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one year. A second or subsequent conviction is punishable as a misdemeanor, and the driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one year.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15311. Section 15311.

(a) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of 180 days if the person is convicted of a first violation of an out-of-service order under subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 2800. (b) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of two years if the person is convicted of violating an out-of-service order under subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 2800 while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded or while operating a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver. (c) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of two years if the person is convicted of a second violation of an out-of-service order under subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 2800 during any 10-year period, arising from separate incidents. (d) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of three years if the person is convicted of a second violation of an out-of-service order under subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 2800 while transporting hazardous materials that are required to be placarded or while operating a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver. (e) In addition to the disqualification period required in subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), a driver who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order under subdivision (b) of Section 2800 is subject to a civil penalty of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for a first conviction, and a civil penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a second or subsequent conviction. (f) A driver shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle for a period of three years if the person is convicted of a third or subsequent violation of an out-of-service order under subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 2800 during any 10-year period, arising from separate incidents.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15311.1. Section 15311.1.

An employer that knowingly allows or requires an employee to operate a commercial motor vehicle in violation of an out-of-service order is, upon conviction, subject to a civil penalty of not less than two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($2,750) nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15312. Section 15312.

A driver may not operate a commercial motor vehicle for the following periods: (a) Not less than 60 days if that person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 2800, or Section 21462, 22451, or 22452, or subdivision (c) or (d) of Section 22526, involving a commercial motor vehicle and the violation occurred at a railroad-highway crossing. (b) Not less than 120 days if that person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 2800, or Section 21462, 22451, or 22452, or subdivision (c) or (d) of Section 22526, involving a commercial motor vehicle, and that violation occurred at a railroad-highway crossing, during any three-year period of a separate, prior offense of a railroad-highway grade crossing violation, that resulted in a conviction. (c) Not less than one year if that person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 2800, or Section 21462, 22451, or 22452, or subdivision (c) or (d) of Section 22526, involving a commercial motor vehicle, and that violation occurred at a railroad-highway crossing, at a railroad-highway grade crossing, during any three-year period of two or more prior offenses of a railroad-highway grade crossing violation, that resulted in convictions.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15312.1. Section 15312.1.

(a) An employer that knowingly allows or requires an employee to operate a commercial motor vehicle in violation of a federal, state, or local law or regulation pertaining to railroad crossings is, upon conviction, subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). (b) This section shall become operative on September 20, 2005.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15315. Section 15315.

(a) The department shall not issue a commercial driver’s license to a person during a period in which the person is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle, or the person’s driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or canceled. (b) No commercial driver’s license may be issued to a person who has a commercial driver’s license issued by any other state unless the person first surrenders the commercial driver’s license issued by the other state, which license shall be returned to the issuing state.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15320. Section 15320.

The department shall suspend, revoke, or cancel, the privilege of any person to operate a commercial motor vehicle for the periods specified in this article upon receipt of a duly certified abstract of the record of any court that the person has been convicted of any of the offenses set forth in this article.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15325. Section 15325.

(a) Pursuant to subpart D of Part 383 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a driver whose driving is determined to constitute an imminent hazard is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for the period specified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (b) The disqualification action shall be made part of the driver’s record. (c) A driver who is simultaneously disqualified under this section and any other state law or regulation, shall serve those disqualification periods concurrently. (d) This section shall become operative on September 20, 2005.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 15326. Section 15326.

Upon receiving notification of an administrative action or conviction of a commercial licenseholder in a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Dominion of Canada, the department shall impose a suspension, revocation, or disqualification action on that person’s commercial driving privilege based upon violations that would result in an administrative action or a conviction pursuant to Section 383.51 of Subpart D of Part 383 and Sections 384.206(b)(3), 384.213, and 384.231 of Subpart B of Part 384 of Title 49 of the Federal Code of Regulations. Those violations include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (a) Violations of Sections 15300, 15302, and 15304. (b) Serious traffic violations, as defined in subdivision (p) of Section 15210 and subject to the penalties under Section 15306 or 15308. (c) Providing false information under Section 15309. (d) Out-of-service order violations under Section 15311. (e) Railroad-highway crossing violations under Section 15312.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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