California Vehicle Code §20002 — Hit and Run — Property Damage Only
Vehicle Code §20002 is California's misdemeanor property-damage hit-and-run statute. Any driver involved in an accident resulting in damage to any property, including a vehicle, must immediately stop and either (1) locate and notify the property owner, providing name, address, vehicle registration, and driver identification, or (2) leave a written notice with the information in a conspicuous place on the damaged property and report the accident to the CHP or local police.
Reviewed by Daniel S. Rubin, CA Bar 302093 · Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney · Hit and Run — Property Damage Only Cases in All LA County Courts
01 — Quick Facts
VC §20002 — Hit and Run — Property Damage Only at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | California Vehicle Code §20002 — Duty to Stop; Property Damage Accident |
| Code Type | Vehicle Code (VC) |
| Classification | Misdemeanor |
| Penalty | Up to 6 months county jail / $1,000 fine |
| Intent | Knowledge of the accident and property damage |
| Related Statutes | VC §20001 (injury/death); VC §20003 (duties on injury); VC §16000 (SR-1 report to DMV); PC §1377 (civil compromise) |
| §17(b) | N/A (misdemeanor) |
| Immigration | Not typically CIMT — property-only offense |
| License Impact | DMV point on driving record; SR-1 required within 10 days |
| Civil Compromise | Available under PC §1377 — commonly resolves case on restitution |
| Statute of Limitations | 1 year (misdemeanor) |
| Free Consultation | (213) 723-2337 — 24/7 |
01 — What Is VC §20002?
What Is California Code §20002?
VC §20002 Reads:
"The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to any property, including vehicles, shall immediately stop the vehicle at the nearest location that will not impede traffic or otherwise jeopardize the safety of other motorists. Movement of a vehicle in accordance with this subdivision does not affect the question of fault. The driver shall also locate and notify the owner or person in charge of that property of the name and address of the driver and the registered owner of the vehicle involved."
— California Vehicle Code §20002(a)
VC §20002 is the property-damage counterpart to felony §20001. The paradigmatic case is a parking-lot fender-bender where the driver leaves without exchanging information or leaving a note. Also common: hitting parked cars, mailboxes, fences, landscaping, and traffic-control devices. Unlike §20001, §20002 has no injury requirement — the offense turns on knowledge of property damage plus failure to satisfy the stop-and-notify duties.
Why This Law Matters
§20002 is a routinely-filed misdemeanor in LA that carries jail exposure, DMV points, insurance-premium impact, and — when uncontested — a persistent conviction. Because it is a property-only offense, PC §1377 civil compromise is often available: full restitution + written waiver from the property owner supports dismissal. Rubin Law, P.C. defends by attacking the knowledge element, coordinating civil compromise, and pursuing PC §1001.95 judicial diversion where compromise is unavailable.
Official Sources
02 — Elements of the Crime
Elements the Prosecution Must Prove Under VC §20002
The People must prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.
Involved in an Accident
Defendant was the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident.
Property Damage
The accident resulted in damage to property (any property, including vehicles).
Knowledge of Accident and Damage
Defendant knew, or reasonably should have known, that an accident occurred with property damage.
Failure to Perform Duties
Defendant failed to (a) locate and notify the owner OR (b) leave a written notice + report to police.
04 — Penalties
Penalties for VC §20002 Hit and Run — Property Damage Only in California
Penalty structure for VC §20002.
| Charge | Code | Prison Term | Probation | Strike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| §20002 Misdemeanor | VC §20002(a) | Up to 6 months county jail | Available (summary) | No |
| Fine | VC §20002(a) | Up to $1,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Companion §16000 SR-1 Failure | VC §16000 | License suspension for failure to file SR-1 within 10 days on $1K+ damage | N/A | N/A |
| Civil Compromise (§1377) | PC §1377 | Dismissal upon full restitution + owner waiver | N/A | N/A |
Related Statutes & Consequences
VC §16000
VC §16000
SR-1 report to DMV within 10 days on $1K+ damage — failure is separate license-suspension trigger.
PC §1377 Civil Compromise
PC §1377
Property-only offense — dismissal on restitution + owner waiver.
PC §1001.95 Diversion
PC §1001.95
Judicial diversion — dismissal after compliance.
Restitution
PC §1202.4
Full restitution to property owner.
Beyond the Sentence
- DMV point on driving record — insurance-premium impact
- SR-1 report required to DMV within 10 days on $1K+ damage
- Rental / lease / employer notification obligations
- Civil liability exposure — negligence-per-se presumption
- Employment-background impact for driving jobs (CDL, rideshare)
- Immigration analysis — not typically CIMT for property-only
Sentencing References
05 — Defense Strategies
How Rubin Law Defends VC §20002 Hit and Run — Property Damage Only Charges
Rubin Law, P.C. defends this offense through the following strategies.
No Knowledge of Damage
Low-impact contact, no visible damage, and weather/dark conditions defeat the knowledge element.
Knowledge
Note Left / Notified
Written note under wiper, phone call to owner, or timely self-reporting to police defeats the failure-to-perform element.
Notice
Not the Driver
Identification challenges — vehicle owner ≠ driver; borrowed-vehicle defense.
ID
PC §1377 Civil Compromise
Full restitution + written waiver from property owner supports dismissal under §1377.
PC §1377
PC §1001.95 Diversion
Where §1377 unavailable, PC §1001.95 judicial diversion supports dismissal on compliance.
Diversion
Prevent §20001 Upgrade
Where injury facts are marginal, defense structuring keeps case on §20002 (misd) track and avoids §20001 (felony wobbler).
Prevent Upgrade
Constitutional Sources
07 — Court Process
How VC §20002 Hit and Run — Property Damage Only Cases Move Through Los Angeles Courts
Typical §20002 case flow in LA County.
- 1
Step 1 — Filing
LA City Attorney or DA files §20002 misdemeanor complaint.
- 2
Step 2 — Arraignment
OR release common; misdemeanor plea entered.
- 3
Step 3 — Civil-Side Coordination
Rubin Law negotiates restitution with property owner in parallel to criminal case.
- 4
Step 4 — Pretrial Motions
Suppression of ID (surveillance), knowledge-element litigation.
- 5
Step 5 — Plea / Compromise / Diversion
PC §1377 civil compromise or §1001.95 diversion — both leading to dismissal.
- 6
Step 6 — Trial or Sentencing
Bench or jury trial on knowledge; sentencing targets no-custody probation.
Los Angeles Courts That Handle VC §20002 Hit and Run — Property Damage Only Cases
§20002 filings venue in the courthouse serving the accident location.
Reviewed by Your Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin — Los Angeles Hit and Run — Property Damage Only Defense Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin has defended clients charged with hit and run — property damage only and related offenses in Los Angeles County courts — including Clara Shortridge Foltz, Van Nuys, Compton, and Pomona. He understands that these cases are won in the details: the suppression hearing that eliminates key evidence, the preliminary hearing cross-examination that exposes a weak witness, the penalty phase argument that keeps a client out of the worst outcome.
This page was written and reviewed by Daniel A. Rubin, Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, CA State Bar 302093, with 10+ years of experience defending clients charged under VC §20002 in Los Angeles County. Last reviewed: July 2026.
CA Bar 302093 | Whittier Law School | Rising Star — Super Lawyers 2019–2023 | Hit and Run — Property Damage Only Cases Throughout LA County
See our full Hit and Run — Property Damage Only defense practice
09 — FAQs
VC §20002 Hit and Run — Property Damage Only Questions — Los Angeles
What is VC §20002?
VC §20002 is California's misdemeanor property-damage hit-and-run statute. Any driver in a property-damage accident must stop and either notify the owner or leave a written notice + report to police.
What if I left a note?
Leaving a written notice with your name, address, and vehicle info in a conspicuous place, AND reporting to police / CHP, satisfies the statute. A proper note is a complete defense.
What's the difference between §20001 and §20002?
§20001 covers accidents involving injury or death (wobbler / felony). §20002 covers property-damage-only accidents (misdemeanor).
Can I resolve §20002 with restitution?
Often yes. Because §20002 is a property-only offense, PC §1377 civil compromise — full restitution and a written waiver from the owner — supports dismissal.
Will I lose my license?
There is no automatic revocation on §20002. However, DMV points impact insurance, and failure to file an SR-1 within 10 days on $1K+ damage separately triggers license suspension.
Is diversion available?
Yes — PC §1001.95 judicial diversion is available for §20002, resulting in dismissal upon compliance with court terms.
Is §20002 a CIMT?
Property-only §20002 is not typically categorized as a CIMT. Immigration analysis is fact-specific for non-citizens.
Available 24/7 — Free Consultation
Cited under VC §20002 Property-Damage Hit and Run? Call Rubin Law.
§20002 is a misdemeanor that often resolves on PC §1377 civil compromise. Rubin Law, P.C. defends and coordinates restitution for dismissal. Call (213) 723-2337.