California Vehicle Code Statutory History

Vehicle Code: The 1959 Vehicle Code in effect is derived from the 1935 Vehicle Code, which it superseded. In turn, the 1935 Vehicle Code consolidated and revised the numerous acts and former statutes relating to vehicles and vehicular traffic, which dated back at least to 1913, when an “act to regulate the use and operation of vehicles upon the public highways and elsewhere” was passed. The 1959 Vehicle Code addresses, to name a few, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the California Highway Patrol, drivers’ and occupational licenses, registration, certificates of title, rules of the road, equipment of vehicles, and driving while under the influence.

Legislative Research: Each section listed below is a link to a PDF document that sets forth the enactment history for that section. The history cited for each section below is intended to be used for information purposes only and should not be relied upon without confirmation. For questions or sections not listed, Contact Us.

Vehicle Code Sections

Sections 1 and 2: Derived from former Vehicle Code §§ 1 and 2, enacted in 1935.

Section 286: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 73, enacted in 1957.

Section 377: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 86.5, enacted in 1957.

Section 615: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 39.7, enacted in 1949.

Section 655: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 32.5(a), enacted in 1937.

Section 1808.21: Added in 1989 and amended five times thereafter.

Section 1808.23: Added in 1990 and amended four times thereafter.

Section 3050: Enacted in 1967.

Section 3060: Enacted in 1973.

Section 10855: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 221.2, enacted in 1957.

Section 11713: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 207, enacted in 1957.

Section 11713.1: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 11713.1, enacted in 1973.

Section 11713.3: Enacted as § 11713.2 in 1973.

Section 12804.11: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 15250.6, added in 1991.

Section 14602.6: Enacted in 1994.

Section 16021: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 420, enacted in 1949.

Section 16054: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 422.5, enacted in 1949.

Section 16054.2: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 420, enacted in 1949.

Section 17000: Derived from former Civil Code § 1714-1/2, enacted in 1929.

Section 17004: Derived from Chapter 263, Statutes of 1929.

Section 17004.7Derived from former Vehicle Code § 17004.7, enacted in 1987.

Section 21101: Derived from former uncodified § 145, enacted in 1923.

Section 21202: Enacted in 1963.

Section 21209: Enacted in 1976.

Section 21212: Enacted in 1993.

Section 21455.5: Enacted in 1995.

Section 21458: Derived from former uncodified § 145-1/2, enacted in 1931.

Section 21460.5: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 21460.5, enacted in 1965.

Section 21650: Derived from former uncodified § 4, enacted in 1905 by Chapter 612.

Section 21966: Enacted in 1976.

Section 22100: Derived from former uncodified § 20, enacted in 1913.

Section 22102: Derived from former uncodified § 128, enacted in 1923.

Section 22349: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 22349, enacted in 1959.

Section 22352: Derived from former uncodified § 22, enacted in 1913.

Section 22450Derived from former uncodified § 22 1/2, enacted in 1929.

Section 22500: Derived from former uncodified § 138, enacted in 1923.

Section 22504: Derived from former uncodified § 15, enacted in 1917.

Section 22651: Derived from former uncodified § 136, enacted in 1923.

Section 22658: Enacted in 1959.

Section 22952: Enacted in 1963.

Section 22953: Enacted in 1985.

Section 23229: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 23125, enacted in 1961.

Section 23302: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 607.2, added in 1935.

Section 23536: Derived from former uncodified § 17, enacted in 1913 by Chapter 326.

Section 23640: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 23202, enacted in 1981.

Section 24007: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 660, added in 1941.

Sections 24402 and 24403: Derived in part from former uncodified § 100 1/2, enacted in 1929.

Section 27315: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 27315, enacted in 1985.

Section 27360: Derived from former Vehicle Code § 27360, enacted in 1982.

Section 27400: Enacted in 1973.

Section 35701: Derived from former uncodified § 145, enacted in 1923.

Sections 41600 through 41603: Enacted in 1976.