§ 23221 Driving Under Influence Prohibited

Vehicle Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says you can't drink alcohol or use marijuana while driving or riding in a car on the road.

Key Takeaways

•Drivers cannot drink alcohol or use marijuana while driving.
•Passengers also cannot drink alcohol or use marijuana in a moving car.
•Breaking this law can result in a ticket.

Example

You're driving home from work and decide to drink a beer while behind the wheel.

This is against the law, and you could get a ticket if a police officer sees you.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 23221 Driving Under Influence Prohibited

(a) A driver shall not drink any alcoholic beverage or smoke or ingest marijuana or any marijuana product while driving a motor vehicle upon a highway. (b) A passenger shall not drink any alcoholic beverage or smoke or ingest marijuana or any marijuana product while in a motor vehicle being driven upon a highway. (c) A violation of this section shall be punished as an infraction. (Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 232, Sec. 2. (SB 65) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

alcoholic beverage marijuana marijuana product infraction

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 23221.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References