Fullerton Motorcycle Traffic Laws

For motorcyclists, understanding Fullerton’s motorcycle traffic laws is essential to avoid citations and to stay safe on the road. While some of California’s motorcycle laws may seem strict, they are designed with rider safety in mind.

This is important in areas like Fullerton, where high traffic volumes increase the risk of collisions. Whether you are a local rider or just passing through, being familiar with California’s motorcycle laws can make a significant difference in both your safety and legal standing.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, the experienced attorneys at CD Law can help you understand how local traffic laws may impact your case, guiding you through the next steps with confidence.

Passenger and Equipment Requirements

Motorcyclists in Fullerton must follow specific state traffic regulations regarding motorcycle passengers and equipment. Bikers and their passengers have to wear helmets approved by the Department of Transportation. The state’s helmet law is stringent, and law enforcement can ticket people without any other violations.

In addition, motorcycles must be equipped with:

Seats for all occupants
Footrests for passengers
Working headlights
Working taillights
Working turn signals

Ensuring compliance with these regulations helps maintain safety and prevents unnecessary citations.

Lane Splitting

California is the only state where motorcycle traffic laws explicitly allow lane splitting. Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist rides between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic. This controversial practice seems dangerous, but might actually keep bikers safer.

Instead of being stuck between larger vehicles in traffic jams, lane splitting allows bikers to keep moving out of harm’s way. However, lane splitting in an unsafe manner can lead to accidents and may impact liability in an injury claim.

Fullerton motorcyclists are not required to lane split. If you choose to do so, you should exercise extreme caution, avoid excessive speeds, and only split lanes when the surrounding traffic is moving at a safe and reasonable speed.

Traffic Laws and Motorcycle Rules

All of the traffic rules for standard motor vehicles apply to bikers in Fullerton unless explicitly preempted by motorcycle traffic laws. Running a red light or failing to stop at a stop sign can result in fines, points on your driving record, and increased insurance rates. Additionally, ignoring traffic signals can put you at greater risk of an accident.

Except for lane splitting, right-of-way rules are the same for bikers as for other drivers. Some key points include yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, allowing other vehicles to merge when required, and following right-of-way rules at intersections. Failure to yield can lead to citations and liability in an accident.

Motorcyclists are also required to follow posted speed limits at all times. It is important to remember that speed limits represent the maximum legal speed, not necessarily the safest. Even if you are technically within the speed limit, law enforcement can still issue citations for riding at speeds deemed unsafe for current road, traffic, or weather conditions.

DUI Laws

Like other traffic laws, driving under the influence (DUI) laws apply to Fullerton motorcyclists. The legal blood alcohol concentration limit in California is 0.08 percent for most riders and 0.04 percent for those with a commercial license. The commercial license requirement applies even when those drivers are not on duty.

A DUI conviction can result in:

Fines and court fees
License suspension
Mandatory DUI education programs
Possible jail time

Operating a motorcycle under the influence significantly increases the likelihood of serious accidents and impacts liability determinations.

Talk to a Fullerton Lawyer About Traffic Laws for Bikers