Driving so slowly that you impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic.
Stays on record 3 years
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.
This violation is issued when you're driving so slowly that you're blocking or slowing down the normal flow of traffic. It doesn't matter if you're going the speed limit — if everyone else is moving faster and you're causing a backup, you could get cited unless your slow speed is necessary for safety.
A CVC 22400(a) ticket costs approximately $238–$350 and adds 1 point to your DMV record. That point stays on your record for 3 years and can cause your insurance rates to increase by 15-25% annually.
A CVC 22400(a) conviction adds 1 point to your record, which insurers typically view as a minor moving violation. Expect premium increases of 15-25% for approximately 3 years. Traffic school can prevent this increase by keeping the point confidential from insurers.
No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation.
Driver travels 35 mph in the fast lane of a 65 mph freeway with clear conditions, causing cars to brake and swerve around them.
Likely valid ticket — speed clearly impeded normal traffic flow with no safety justification.
Driver slows to 25 mph on a rural two-lane road due to a mechanical issue with their vehicle while looking for a safe place to pull over.
Strong defense — reduced speed was necessary for safe operation of a malfunctioning vehicle.
Driver maintains 40 mph on a highway during heavy fog with reduced visibility to 100 feet.
Ticket should be dismissed — reduced speed was clearly necessary for safe operation in hazardous conditions.
These are the defense arguments that appear most often in successful Trial by Written Declarations for this violation.
Safety necessity due to conditions
California law explicitly allows reduced speeds when necessary for safe operation. If weather, road debris, poor visibility, or road conditions made slower driving safer, this is a complete defense.
No actual impediment to traffic
The law requires that your speed actually impeded the normal movement of traffic. If traffic was light or vehicles could easily pass you, no violation occurred.
Vehicle mechanical issues
If your vehicle was experiencing mechanical problems that required you to drive slowly while seeking a safe place to stop, your reduced speed was necessary for safety.
Challenge the officer's traffic flow assessment
The officer must accurately assess what constitutes 'normal and reasonable' traffic flow. If traffic was unusually aggressive or speeding, your lawful speed wasn't the problem.
Following posted minimum speed signs
If you were driving at or above any posted minimum speed limit, you have a strong argument that your speed was reasonable and lawful.
⚠️ What NOT to Do
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Yes. This law focuses on impeding traffic flow, not whether you're exceeding the limit. If traffic is safely moving at 70 mph and you're doing 45 mph in the left lane on a clear day, you can be cited even though 45 mph might be below the posted maximum.
Being in the right lane helps your defense but doesn't guarantee dismissal. If your speed was still so slow that it created a hazard or significantly impeded merging traffic, you could still be cited. However, staying right shows you weren't blocking faster traffic.
Some highways have posted minimum speeds, but CVC 22400(a) applies even without posted minimums. The standard is whether your speed impedes 'normal and reasonable' traffic movement, which depends on actual conditions, not just posted signs.
Unfamiliarity with a vehicle or being a new driver isn't typically a valid safety defense under this law. However, if you were in the rightmost lane and not significantly impeding traffic, you can argue no actual impediment occurred.
Request historical weather data from weather.gov or weather apps showing conditions at that exact time and location. Photos taken at the time, dashcam footage, and even news reports of weather events can support your defense that slow driving was necessary for safety.
Traffic School Option
Most drivers cited for CVC 22400(a) are eligible for traffic school if they haven't attended in the past 18 months. Completing traffic school masks the point from your insurance company and keeps it off your public driving record.
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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.
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