Under Article I, Section 15, of the California Constitution, your right to a speedy trial begins at the earlier of: The date a complaint or any other charging document is filed against you; or The date you are arrested (if that arrest is followed by actual or continuing restraint of some kind). This is one major difference between the federal and state laws on Serna motions. Under federal law, a felony complaint does not start the speedy trial clock running--only an indictment or information can do that. But under state law, a complaint activates your speedy trial rights for either misdemeanors or felonies.