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HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 11Ch. 12Art. 1§ 23104 Reckless Driving Injury Penalties

§ 23104 Reckless Driving Injury Penalties

Vehicle Code·California
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§ 23104 Reckless Driving Injury Penalties

If you drive recklessly and hurt someone else, you can be sent to jail for 30 days to 6 months, have to pay a fine of $220 to $1,000, or both.

Key Takeaways

  • •Reckless driving that hurts another person can lead to jail time (30 days‑6 months).
  • •A fine of $220‑$1,000 can also be imposed, or both jail and fine together.
  • •If the injury is very serious and the driver has previous similar convictions, the punishment can be even harsher.

Example

A driver speeds through a stop sign and crashes into a cyclist, causing the cyclist to break a leg.

Because the driver was driving recklessly and caused the cyclist's injury, the driver can be sentenced to jail, a fine, or both under this law.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 23104 Reckless Driving Injury Penalties

(a)Except as provided in subdivision (b), whenever reckless driving of a vehicle proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver, the person driving the vehicle shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months or by a fine of not less than two hundred twenty dollars ($220) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. (b) A person convicted of reckless driving that proximately causes great bodily injury, as defined in Section 12022.7 of the Penal Code, to a person other than the driver, who previously has been convicted of a violation of Section 23103, 23104, 23105, 23109, 23109.1, 23152, or 23153, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months or by a fine of not less than two hundred twenty dollars ($220) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both the fine and imprisonment.

Last verified: February 26, 2026

Related Statutes

  • § 23100 Vehicle Application Scope
  • § 23103 Reckless Driving Penalties
  • § 23103.5 Dui Plea Fact Requirements
  • § 23105 Reckless Driving Injury Penalties
  • § 23109 Speed Contests And Exhibitions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 23104.
View Official Source