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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 5Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 1.5§ 5170 Emergency Inebriation Protective Custody

§ 5170 Emergency Inebriation Protective Custody

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 5170 Emergency Inebriation Protective Custody

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone is drunk and hurting themselves or others, they can be taken to a special place for help.
  • •Police or certain workers can take them there if they have a good reason.
  • •The person stays there for up to 72 hours to get checked and treated.
  • •This is not an arrest—it’s to keep them and others safe.

Example

A person is drunk at a park, yelling and trying to fight others.

The police can take them to a special place for 72 hours to calm down and get help instead of arresting them.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5170 Emergency Inebriation Protective Custody

When any person is a danger to others, or to himself, or gravely disabled as a result of inebriation, a peace officer, member of the attending staff, as defined by regulation, of an evaluation facility designated by the county, or other person designated by the county may, upon reasonable cause, take, or cause to be taken, the person into civil protective custody and place him in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation of inebriates. (Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 429.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

treatmentregulationfacilitydangercustodyfineevaluationif someone

Related Statutes

  • § 5172.1 Voluntary Inebriate Detox Admission
  • § 359 Minor Drug Detention Orders
  • § 5343 Substance Use Emergency Holds
  • § 5585.50 Minor Emergency Mental Health Detention
  • § 3306 Prisoner Temporary Removal Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 5170.
View Official Source