Riverside, CA asked in Car Accidents and Gov & Administrative Law for California

Q: Is it illegal for a car to be leaking any type of fluids(gas, oil, water,etc)? If yes, what are the consequences?

3 Lawyer Answers
Dale S. Gribow
Dale S. Gribow
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Palm Desert, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Probably no big deal.

however, now that you are admittedly aware of it, the consequences could be worse.

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Under California law, it is illegal for a car to leak certain types of fluids. Specifically, it is illegal for a car to leak any fluid that is harmful to the environment or constitutes a safety hazard, such as gasoline, motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, or power steering fluid.

The consequences for violating this law can include fines and penalties, impoundment of the vehicle, and even criminal charges in some cases. For example, if a car is leaking gasoline and the owner or driver fails to take reasonable steps to repair the leak or contain the spill, they could be charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense.

In addition to potential legal consequences, there are also environmental and safety risks associated with leaking fluids from a car. Spilled fluids can contaminate soil and water sources, create fire hazards, and pose health risks to people and wildlife.

If you suspect that a car is leaking harmful fluids, you can report it to local authorities or the California Environmental Protection Agency's complaint hotline. It's important to address these issues promptly to minimize the impact on the environment and public safety.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Little Neck, NY

A: It could, depending on the quantity and environmental impact. Plain water is generally not an issue, but other contaminants that could enter groundwater could result in violations. Good luck

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.