California Vehicle
Code VC 23224 - Possession of Alcohol in Vehicle: Person Under 21.23224.
(a) No person under the age of 21 years shall knowingly drive any motor vehicle
carrying any alcoholic beverage, unless the person is accompanied by a parent,
responsible adult relative, any other adult designated by the parent, or legal
guardian for the purpose of transportation of an alcoholic beverage, or is employed
by a licensee under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (Division 9 (commencing
with Section 23000) of the Business and Professions Code), and is driving the
motor vehicle during regular hours and in the course of the person's employment.
If the driver was unaccompanied, he or she shall have a complete defense if he
or she was following, in a timely manner, the reasonable instructions of his or
her parent, legal guardian, responsible adult relative, or adult designee relating
to disposition of the alcoholic beverage. (b) No passenger in any motor
vehicle who is under the age of 21 years shall knowingly possess or have under
that person's control any alcoholic beverage, unless the passenger is accompanied
by a parent, legal guardian, responsible adult relative, any other adult designated
by the parent, or legal guardian for the purpose of transportation of an alcoholic
beverage, or is employed by a licensee under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act
(Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000) of the Business and Professions Code),
and possession or control is during regular hours and in the course of the passenger's
employment. If the passenger was unaccompanied, he or she shall have a complete
defense if he or she was following, in a timely manner, the reasonable instructions
of his or her parent, legal guardian, responsible adult relative or adult designee
relating to disposition of the alcoholic beverage. (c) If the vehicle used
in any violation of subdivision (a) or (b) is registered to an offender who is
under the age of 21 years, the vehicle may be impounded at the owner's expense
for not less than one day nor more than 30 days for each violation. (d)
Any person under 21 years of age convicted of a violation of this section is subject
to Section 13202.5. (e) Any person convicted for a violation of subdivision
(a) or (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished upon conviction by
a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the
county jail for not more than six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment. Amended
Ch. 1697, Stats. 1990. Effective January 1, 1991.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 690,
Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997. California
Vehicle Codes index page |
