Under 21 And Driving
Veh. Code 23136 — 0.01 percent brings a suspension; 0.05 percent is an offense
0.01 percent. A person under 21 in California may not drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or more, measured by a preliminary screening or other chemical test. The department immediately suspends the driving privilege on that showing.
0.05 percent. Driving under 21 with 0.05 percent or more is unlawful in its own right, and the court's finding goes to the department within 10 days.
A driver under 21 lawfully detained for the 0.01 offense is deemed to have consented to the test, and refusing or not completing it brings a suspension or revocation of one year to three years.
Sources for this section (3)
- Veh. Code 23136 — A person under 21 driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or more
- Veh. Code 23140 — Under 21 with 0.05 percent alcohol while driving
- Veh. Code 13353.2 — Immediate suspension for alcohol concentration, including under 21
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.