I've never been busted. but 3 of my friends have...

none of them got in any major trouble.

1. got busted at like 3 am, had a 1/4 ounce on him, the cop just said don't take this stuff out of your house and gave it back.
2. at school my friend was slanging, the drug dog smelled the weed in his car, he had almost an ounce, lil bags and a scale, could of got major fines but they let him go, the school just suspended him for 5 days.
3. my friend got caught hot boxing his car. he had a zong and like 1/8 of weed left. they confiscated the zong and the weed but no punishment was give.

overall in California they can't really do anything. they rarely fine you. and when they do it's light. the law is 28.5 grams or less is only a misdemeanor and the highest fine is $100.