Is it illegal to sleep in your car in California?

Even if a person legally owns his own car in California, it is still illegal for him to sleep in it in many cities and counties in the state. While it is not illegal to fall asleep everywhere in a car in California, a lot of cities, such as Los Angeles, Orange County and the rest of Southern California, ban it.

The law is meant to curb the practice of sleeping in the car after spending the night at a bar and driving home in a few hours after awakening. While the intentions of the law are well-meaning, it also makes it illegal for workers to doze off in their cars during their lunch breaks and professional drivers to catch a nap in a commuter parking lot during long commutes.