Section § 35100

Explanation

This law sets the maximum width for vehicles and their loads at 102 inches but allows for exceptions in this chapter. Safety devices deemed necessary by the Secretary of Transportation are not counted toward this width limit. Additionally, cities and counties can make local rules to restrict vehicles wider than 96 inches on their roads, but these rules only take effect once signs are posted.

(a)CA Vehicle Code § 35100(a) The total outside width of any vehicle or its load shall not exceed 102 inches, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 35100(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, safety devices which the Secretary of Transportation determines to be necessary for the safe and efficient operation of motor vehicles shall not be included in the calculation of width as specified in subdivision (a).
(c)CA Vehicle Code § 35100(c) Any city or county may, by ordinance, prohibit a combination of vehicles of a total width in excess of 96 inches upon highways under its jurisdiction. The ordinance shall not be effective until appropriate signs are erected indicating the streets affected.

Section § 35100.1

Explanation

This law provides guidelines for measuring vehicle width. Section 35100.1 specifies that a vehicle width of 102 inches is equivalent to 2.6 meters. Additionally, when measuring a vehicle's width, it should be measured from the outer walls of the vehicle's sides.

For purposes of subdivision (a) of Section 35100, the following apply:
(a)CA Vehicle Code § 35100.1(a) The metric equivalent of 102 inches, 2.6 meters, meets the requirement of Section 35100.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 35100.1(b) The width measurement of any vehicle with side walls shall be made from the outside wall of the two opposite sides of the vehicle.

Section § 35100.5

Explanation

This law states that a cotton module mover, which is a type of vehicle used to transport harvested cotton, cannot be wider than 130 inches on highways. However, individual county boards can pass resolutions to further limit or completely prohibit these vehicles on their county highways if they choose to.

The total outside width of a cotton module mover operated on the highways pursuant to Section 35555 and the load thereon shall not exceed 130 inches in width. However, a county board of supervisors, with respect to any or all county highways within its jurisdiction or any portion thereof, may by resolution prohibit or limit the operation of cotton module movers exceeding the maximum width specified in Section 35100.

Section § 35101

Explanation

This law states that the maximum width of a vehicle with pneumatic tires, including wheels and tires, should not exceed 108 inches. However, the width of the vehicle's body or its load should be no more than 102 inches.

For vehicles made or modified after certain changes to the law in 1983, they must have axles, tires, and wheels wide enough to keep the vehicle stable and safe. The California Highway Patrol will conduct tests on vehicles that are more than 96 inches wide to see if performance standards are needed. If standards are set, they'll match federal transportation guidelines.

When any vehicle is equipped with pneumatic tires, the maximum width from the outside of one wheel and tire to the outside of the opposite outer wheel and tire shall not exceed 108 inches, but the outside width of the body of the vehicle or the load thereon shall not exceed 102 inches.
Vehicles manufactured, reconstructed, or modified after the effective date of amendments to this section enacted during the 1983 portion of the 1983–84 Regular Session of the Legislature, to utilize the 102 inch maximum width dimension, shall be equipped with axles, tires, and wheels of sufficient width to adequately and safely stabilize the vehicle. The Department of the California Highway Patrol shall conduct tests relating to the dynamic stability of vehicles utilizing body widths over 96 inches, up to and including 102 inches, to determine the necessity for establishing performance standards under the authority of Section 34500. Such standards if established shall be consistent with width standards established by or under the authority of the United States Department of Transportation.

Section § 35102

Explanation

This law states that if a vehicle is transporting a load of unpackaged, loose agricultural products, like hay or straw, the total width of the load and any racks holding it cannot be more than 120 inches wide.

When any vehicle carries a load of loosely piled agricultural products such as hay, straw, or leguminous plants in bulk but not crated, baled, boxed, or sacked, such load of loosely piled material and any loading racks retaining the same shall not exceed 120 inches in width.

Section § 35103

Explanation

This law allows recreational vehicles to be a little wider than the normal maximum width if the extra width comes from things attached to the vehicle, like awnings or cameras, as long as they don't stick out more than six inches on either side. These attachments can't be used to carry loads.

(a)CA Vehicle Code § 35103(a) A vehicle used for recreational purposes may exceed the maximum width established under Section 35100 if the excess width is attributable to an appurtenance, excluding a safety device, that does not exceed six inches beyond either sidewall of the vehicle.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 35103(b) For the purposes of subdivision (a), an appurtenance is an integral part of a vehicle and includes, but is not limited to, awnings, grab handles, lighting equipment, cameras, and vents. An appurtenance may not be used as a load carrying device.

Section § 35104

Explanation

This law section specifies that certain vehicles can be wider than usual but cannot exceed 120 inches in width. It applies to special mobile equipment, construction or highway maintenance vehicles, and vehicles used exclusively to transport livestock feed, except when these feed-hauling vehicles operate on a highway at night.

The limitations as to width do not apply to the following vehicles except that these vehicles shall not exceed a width of 120 inches:
(a)CA Vehicle Code § 35104(a) Special mobile equipment.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 35104(b) Special construction or highway maintenance equipment.
(c)CA Vehicle Code § 35104(c) Motor vehicles designed for, and used exclusively to, haul feed for livestock that are exempted from registration by subdivision (c) of Section 36102, except when operated on a highway during darkness.

Section § 35105

Explanation

In California, cities with a special charter can create their own rules allowing vehicles and their loads to be wider than normal, but only if the vehicles operate solely within the city's limits.

Any city organized under a freeholders’ charter may by ordinance permit a total outside width of vehicle and load in excess of the limits set forth in Sections 35100, 35101, 35102, 35104, and 35106 when the vehicle is used exclusively within the boundary limits of the city.

Section § 35106

Explanation

This law lays out the maximum width limits for motor coaches and buses. By default, these vehicles can be up to 102 inches wide. However, there's an exception for buses operating under public utility regulations in urban or suburban services, which can be up to 104 inches wide if approved by the Public Utilities Commission. Buses used by companies in similar areas not regulated by the Commission can also be 104 inches wide.

(a)CA Vehicle Code § 35106(a) Motor coaches or buses may have a maximum width not exceeding 102 inches.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 35106(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), motor coaches or buses operated under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission in urban or suburban service may have a maximum outside width not exceeding 104 inches, when approved by order of the Public Utilities Commission for use on routes designated by it. Motor coaches or buses operated by common carriers of passengers for hire in urban or suburban service and not under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission may have a maximum outside width not exceeding 104 inches.

Section § 35107

Explanation

This law defines what "urban and suburban service" means in terms of transportation. It refers to transportation services provided within urban or suburban areas or between nearby cities. However, these services can only operate one-way routes that are no longer than 50 miles. If a motor coach route on a state highway is over 25 miles but under 50 miles, it needs approval from the Department of Transportation.

“Urban and suburban service” means a service performed in urban or suburban areas, or between municipalities in close proximity, except that:
(a)CA Vehicle Code § 35107(a) The one-way route mileage of the service shall not be more than 50 miles.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 35107(b) Designated motor coach routes over state highways outside limits of incorporated cities where the one-way route mileage is over 25 miles, but does not exceed 50 miles, shall be approved by the Department of Transportation.

Section § 35109

Explanation

This law allows certain necessary items like lights, mirrors, or other devices that must be installed on a vehicle to extend up to 10 inches beyond the vehicle's width on each side.

Lights, mirrors, or devices which are required to be mounted upon a vehicle under this code may extend beyond the permissible width of the vehicle to a distance not exceeding 10 inches on each side of the vehicle.

Section § 35110

Explanation

This law allows certain extensions on the sides of vehicles up to three inches for specific items like door handles, hinges, aerodynamic devices, and tarping systems. Aerodynamic devices are designed to reduce drag and improve airflow, but they must not affect how the vehicle turns. For tarping systems, all parts like transverse structures, side rails, and rear doors can fit within these extensions. The law specifies measurements and requirements to ensure safety and regulate how these components are attached and used.

(a)CA Vehicle Code § 35110(a) Door handles, hinges, cable cinchers, chain binders, aerodynamic devices, holders for the display of placards warning of hazardous materials, and a tarping system and all nonproperty carrying devices or components thereof, may extend three inches on each side of the vehicle.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 35110(b) For purposes of this section, “aerodynamic device” means a device that uses technologies that minimize drag and improve airflow over an entire tractor-trailer vehicle. These include gap fairings that reduce turbulence between the tractor and trailer, side skirts that minimize wind under the trailer, and rear fairings that reduce turbulence and pressure drop at the rear of the trailer, provided that these devices shall not adversely impact the vehicle’s swept width and turning characteristics and that the primary purpose of the device is not for advertising.
(c)Copy CA Vehicle Code § 35110(c)
(1)Copy CA Vehicle Code § 35110(c)(1) For purposes of this section, “a tarping system” means a movable device used to enclose the cargo area of flatbed semitrailers or trailers.
(2)CA Vehicle Code § 35110(c)(2) Subdivision (a) applies to all component parts of a tarping system, including the following:
(A)CA Vehicle Code § 35110(c)(2)(A) The transverse structure at the front of the vehicle to which the sliding walls and roof of the tarp mechanism are attached, provided the structure is not also intended or designed to comply with Section 393.106 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The transverse structure may be up to 108 inches wide if properly centered so that neither side extends more than three inches beyond the structural edge of the vehicle.
(B)CA Vehicle Code § 35110(c)(2)(B) The side rails running the length of the vehicle.
(C)CA Vehicle Code § 35110(c)(2)(C) The rear doors, provided the only function of the rear doors is to seal the cargo area and anchor the sliding walls and roof.
(D)CA Vehicle Code § 35110(c)(2)(D) The “wings” designed to close the gap between a headerboard designed to comply with Section 393.106 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and the movable walls and roof of a tarping system, provided they are add-on pieces designed to bear only the load of the tarping system itself and are not integral parts of the load-bearing headerboard structure.
(d)CA Vehicle Code § 35110(d) For purposes of this section, a “headerboard designed to comply with Section 393.106 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations” is load bearing and does not exceed 102 inches in width.

Section § 35111

Explanation

This law means that if you're driving a passenger car on a highway, you can't have anything sticking out past the left fender. On the right side, whatever you're carrying can't stick out more than six inches past the fender. Basically, keep things within the width of your car for safety.

No passenger vehicle shall be operated on any highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on its left side or more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on its right side.