is charged when you give false information to a police

officer or a peace officer.

So this could be a false name, a false date of birth,

presenting a fictitious driver's license.

It could be giving a false answer to a question.

When I was a prosecutor, we had a case

where a guy was pulled over and the officer asked,

"I smelled marijuana.

Do you have any marijuana in the car?"

The driver said, "No."

Well, the police searched and they found a joint and a pipe

and a baggie of weed in his center console.

So this guy was charged, not just

with possession of marijuana, but also

with Vehicle Code 31-- giving false information to a police

officer.

This is often charged together with Vehicle Code

20, which is giving false information to a CHP

officer or the DMV, and also Penal Code 148, which

is obstructing a police officer in the course of their duties.