2113. Driving With 0.05 Percent Blood Alcohol When Under 21

The defendant is charged [in Count ______] with driving when under the age of 21 years with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent or more.

To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that:

1. The defendant drove a vehicle;

2. When (he/she) drove, the defendant's blood alcohol level was 0.05 percent or more by weight;

AND

3. At that time, the defendant was under 21 years old.

[In evaluating any test results in this case, you may consider whether or not the person administering the test or the agency maintaining the testing device followed the regulations of the California Department of Health Services.]

[Under the law, a person becomes one year older as soon as the first minute of his or her birthday has begun.]

Bench Notes

Instructional Duty

The court has a sua sponte duty to give this instruction defining the elements of the crime. Note that this offense is an infraction. (Veh. Code, §§ 40000.1, 40000.15.) However, this instruction has been included because this offense may serve as a predicate offense for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated or vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. (Pen. Code, §§ 191.5, 192(c)(3); see People v. Goslar (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 270, 275-276 [82 Cal.Rptr.2d 558].)

If the evidence demonstrates that the person administering the test or agency maintaining the testing device failed to follow the title 17 regulations, give the bracketed sentence that begins with "In evaluating any test results in this case." (People v. Adams (1976) 59 Cal.App.3d 559, 567 [131 Cal.Rptr. 190] [failure to follow regulations in administering breath test goes to weight, not admissibility, of the evidence]; People v. Williams (2002) 28 Cal.4th 408, 417 [121 Cal.Rptr.2d 854, 49 P.3d 203] [same]; People v. Esayian (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 1031, 1039 [5 Cal.Rptr.3d 542] [results of blood test admissible even though phlebotomist who drew blood not authorized under title 17].)

Give the bracketed paragraph about calculating age if requested. (Fam. Code, § 6500; In re Harris (1993) 5 Cal.4th 813, 849-850 [21 Cal.Rptr.2d 373, 855 P.2d 391].)

On request, give CALCRIM No. 2241, Driver and Driving Defined.

Authority

Elements. Veh. Code, § 23140(a); Burg v. Municipal Court (1983) 35 Cal.3d 257, 265-266 [198 Cal.Rptr. 145, 673 P.2d 732].

Statute Constitutional. See Burg v. Municipal Court (1983) 35 Cal.3d 257, 273 [198 Cal.Rptr. 145, 673 P.2d 732]; People v. Goslar (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 270, 275-276 [82 Cal.Rptr.2d 558].

Secondary Sources

2 Witkin & Epstein, California Criminal Law (3d ed. 2000) Crimes Against Public Peace and Welfare, §§ 205-210.

6 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 145, Narcotics and Alcohol Offenses, § 145.02[1A][a] (Matthew Bender).

Related Issues

See the Related Issues section in CALCRIM No. 2111, Driving With 0.08 Percent Blood Alcohol.

(New January 2006)