Truck Following Too Closely
A motor truck or tractor following another motor truck or tractor on a roadway outside a business or residential district at less than the required 300-foot interval.
This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.
What is a Truck Following Too Closely ticket?
This law requires commercial trucks and truck tractors to maintain at least 300 feet of distance behind other trucks when driving on highways outside of business or residential areas. It's designed to prevent chain-reaction accidents involving large vehicles and to give truck drivers adequate stopping distance.
A conviction means approximately $238-$350 in fines plus 1 DMV point on your record. For commercial drivers, this point can affect your CDL status, and higher insurance premiums for commercial vehicles can significantly increase operating costs.
One point on your record can increase commercial truck insurance premiums significantly — often hundreds of dollars annually. For owner-operators or fleet drivers, this can affect employment opportunities and operating costs for years.
What the Law Says
A motor truck or truck tractor when upon a highway outside of a business or residence district shall be driven or operated at a distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear of any other such vehicle.
What the Officer Must Prove
- 1Your vehicle was a motor truck or truck tractor as defined by California law
- 2The vehicle you were following was also a motor truck or truck tractor
- 3The following distance was less than 300 feet
- 4The location was on a highway outside any business or residential district
- 5The officer had a reliable method to determine the following distance
How Drivers Get This Ticket
A truck driver follows another semi at 200 feet on Interstate 5 through rural farmland.
Violation applies since they're on a highway outside business/residential areas with less than 300 feet distance.
Two trucks travel 150 feet apart on Highway 99 through downtown Fresno's commercial district.
No violation because the 300-foot rule doesn't apply within business districts.
A delivery truck follows a semi at 250 feet through a mountainous section of I-80 during heavy traffic congestion.
Driver may have a defense if traffic conditions made maintaining 300 feet impractical for safe traffic flow.
Common Defenses for Truck Following Too Closely
These are the defense arguments that appear most often in successful Trial by Written Declarations for this violation.
Location was within a business or residential district
The 300-foot rule only applies on highways outside business and residential areas. If you can prove the citation occurred within such a district, the violation doesn't apply.
Inaccurate distance measurement
Officers typically estimate following distances without precise measuring equipment. You can challenge whether the officer's visual estimate from a distance was accurate enough to prove less than 300 feet.
Traffic conditions required closer following
Heavy traffic or congestion may make maintaining 300 feet impossible without creating additional hazards. California law allows for practical exceptions when road conditions warrant closer following.
Your vehicle doesn't qualify as a motor truck
This law applies specifically to motor trucks and truck tractors. If your vehicle is classified differently under California law, the statute may not apply to you.
How to Address This in Your Declaration
- ✓Photos or maps showing the location was within a business or residential district
- ✓GPS data or dashcam footage showing actual following distance
- ✓Documentation of traffic conditions at the time (congestion, construction)
- ✓Vehicle registration proving your truck doesn't meet the statutory definition
- ✓Expert testimony on distance estimation accuracy from the officer's vantage point
⚠️ What NOT to Do
- ✗Assuming this law applies to all vehicles — it only applies to trucks following other trucks
- ✗Admitting you were following closely without mentioning traffic conditions
- ✗Failing to research whether the exact citation location was in a business district
- ✗Not questioning how the officer measured or estimated the 300-foot distance
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Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Following Too Closely
Does the 300-foot rule apply to my pickup truck?▼
It depends on your truck's classification. The law applies to 'motor trucks' as defined in CVC 410, which generally means trucks used to transport property. A personal pickup may not qualify depending on its use and registration.
How do officers measure 300 feet?▼
Most officers estimate the distance visually, often using road markings, vehicle lengths, or pacing. They rarely use precise measuring equipment, which can create opportunities to challenge the accuracy of their estimate.
What counts as a business or residential district?▼
California law defines these as areas with buildings fronting the highway for 300+ feet. This includes commercial zones, downtown areas, and neighborhoods — not just the city limits.
Why is this rule different from regular tailgating laws?▼
CVC 21704 specifically addresses trucks following trucks to prevent catastrophic chain-reaction collisions. Large vehicles need much greater stopping distances, making 300 feet a safety minimum on open highways.
Can I fight this ticket if I'm a commercial driver?▼
Yes, and it's often worth doing. Commercial drivers face greater consequences from points on their record, making a Trial by Written Declaration a smart option to potentially avoid the violation entirely.
Traffic School Option
Most drivers are eligible for traffic school to mask the point, but commercial drivers operating under a CDL may have restrictions. Check your eligibility since this can protect both your personal and commercial driving records.
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Related Violations
This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.