General Provisions

General Provisions enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3.

§§ 1–32 · 34 sections

§ 1 This act shall be known as the Vehicle Code.
§ 2 The provisions of this code, insofar as they are substantially the same as existing provisions relating to the same subject matter, shall be construed as…
§ 3 All persons who, at the time this code goes into effect, hold office under the code repealed by this code, which offices are continued by this code, continue…
§ 4 No action or proceeding commenced before this code takes effect, and no right accrued, is affected by the provisions of this code, but all procedure thereafter…
§ 5 If any portion of this code is held unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of any other portion of this code.
§ 6 Unless the provision or the context otherwise requires, these general provisions and rules of construction shall govern the construction of this code.
§ 7 Division, chapter, and article headings do not in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this code.
§ 8 Whenever, by the provisions of this code, a power is granted to a public officer or a duty imposed upon such an officer, the power may be exercised or the duty…
§ 9 Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required by this code, it shall be made in writing in the English language.
§ 10 Whenever any reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law, such reference shall apply to all amendments and additions heretofore or…
§ 11 “Section” means a section of this code unless some other statute is specifically mentioned and “subdivision” means a subdivision of the section in which that…
§ 12 The present tense includes the past and future tenses; and the future, the present.
§ 12.2 “Spouse” includes “registered domestic partner,” as required by Section 297.5 of the Family Code.
§ 13 The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.
§ 14 The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.
§ 15 “Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive.
§ 16 “Oath” includes affirmation.
§ 17 “Signature” or “subscription” includes mark when the signer or subscriber cannot write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a…
§ 18 Officers and employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of the California Highway Patrol are, for the purposes of this code, authorized…
§ 19 Whenever the acknowledgement of any document is required by this code or any regulation of either department, the signature of the applicant attested to in his…
§ 20 It is unlawful to use a false or fictitious name, or to knowingly make any false statement or knowingly conceal any material fact in any document filed with…
§ 21 (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this code are applicable and uniform throughout the state and in all counties and municipalities…
§ 22 Whenever notice is required to be given under this code by a department or any division, officer, employee, or agent, the notice shall be given either by…
§ 23 The giving of notice by personal delivery is complete upon delivery of a copy of the notice to the person to be notified. The giving of notice by mail is…
§ 24 Proof of the giving of notice may be made by the certificate of any officer, employee, or agent of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of the…
§ 24.5 All civil process in actions brought against the director and the Department of Motor Vehicles and all subpoenas for the production of department records shall…
§ 25 (a) It is unlawful for a person to display or cause or permit to be displayed any sign, mark, or advertisement indicating an official connection with either…
§ 25.5 It is unlawful for any person to falsely represent himself or herself in any manner as an employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles for the purpose of…
§ 27 Any person who without authority impersonates, or wears the badge of, a member of the California Highway Patrol with intention to deceive anyone is guilty of a…
§ 28 (a) Whenever possession is taken of any vehicle by or on behalf of its legal owner under the terms of a security agreement or lease agreement, the person…
§ 29 Wherever a notice or other communication is required by this code to be mailed by registered mail by or to a person or corporation, the mailing of that notice…
§ 30 It is declared as a matter of legislative policy that red lights and sirens on vehicles should be restricted to authorized emergency vehicles engaged in…
§ 31 No person shall give, either orally or in writing, information to a peace officer while in the performance of his duties under the provisions of this code when…
§ 32 Whenever local authorities are given the power to take action by ordinance pursuant to Division 11 (commencing with Section 21000) and Division 15 (commencing…