Ya gotta love California "drivers" 4706

Can you cite the law that says this? I don't know about California, but in NC there are laws that cover people making unsafe manuvers that lead to accidents. Surely California is the same. I looked through the California Vehicle Code and couldn't find anything that says "if someone cuts into your lane right in front of you, and you hit him anywhere behind the lights, it's a "rear ender" and YOU are blamed."

I did find the following laws that might apply in some way (depending on how they are interperted):

"23103. (a) Any person who drives any vehicle upon a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving."

Seems like cutting in front of someone so that he is unable to stop is operating a vehicle "in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property...."

"22107. No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement."

Seems like cutting in front of someone violates this part of the code.

"22109. No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle on a highway without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in this chapter to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is opportunity to give the signal."

If you cut in front of someone and brake rapidly, it seems to me your are violating this part of the code.

"21703. The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the roadway."

I suppose if they cut in front of you and you continue to follow too closely and later have an accident you are violating this portion of the code.

Regards,

Ed White