SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> Hundreds of new laws will go into effect January 1. Here is a handful of them that could impact drivers throughout California.
๐๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ: Cruising will be legal throughout the state of California, the birthplace of lowriding. A new law removes city and county authority to regulate cruising via local ordinances.
Over the years, lowriding became a target of elected officials and police who linked it to urban crime. In 1988, lawmakers passed a bill allowing California cities and towns to enforce bans on cruising, which many did.
Though the ordinances were unenforced in many cities, lowriders in some communities have been told to move on by the police, ticketed, and some have even had their cars impounded. For those impacted, many said the effort to criminalize the popular pastime was based on cultural and racial discrimination.
Introduced by Assembly member David Alvarez, Assembly Bill 436 ends restrictions on lowrider vehicles in California state law. Owners were barred from modifying their passenger vehicles so that the body of the car is closer to the ground than the bottom of the rims. It also puts and end to any limits on cruising on California streets.
The new law is being applauded as a major win as the law will allow the historical legacies of cruising to continue for the current generation and many more.
California Police Officers Must Tell you why Youโre Being Stopped: California law enforcement officers must state the reason for a traffic or pedestrian stop before engaging in questioning related to a traffic violation or criminal investigation.
The officer must also document the reason for the stop on any citation or police report resulting from the stop.
These requirements do not apply where the officer reasonably believes that withholding the reason for the stop is necessary to protect life or property from imminent threat, such as in cases of terrorism or kidnapping.
The purpose of the new law is โTo promote equity and accountability in communities across Californiaโ. Assembly Bill 2773 is expected to bring transparency to the service of protecting our public.
In support of the bill, the Public Defenders Association, said in part that, AB 2773 would increase transparency and public confidence in law enforcement by requiring an officer to immediately reassure the individual of the reason for the stop. โUnfortunately, some officers launch into a series of questions that may have no apparent relationship to any basis for the stop. The longer the questioning goes on the more apprehensive the individual becomes of the officerโs true motives.โ
The bill was opposed by the California State Sheriffsโ Association and Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC). The California Highway Patrolmen Association, wrote in opposition of this bill, โCHPโs current policy is to announce the reason for the stop upfront. They are trained to do that and have no issue with that. This bill however takes it a step further. If an officer fails to announce the reason for the stop โ except under imminent threat to life or property โ the motion to suppress clause allows evidence to be thrown out and therefore the violator gets off.โ
The law was also created to help de-escalate interactions between police and civilians.
Vehicle Registration: Existing law requires current month and year tabs to be displayed on the registered vehicleโs rear license plate.ย Beginning July 1, 2024, and until Jan. 1, 2030, a violation of vehicle registration shall not be the sole basis for any enforcement action before the second month after the month of expiration of a vehicleโs registration, per AB 256. However, if a vehicle is stopped for any other Vehicle Code violation, enforcement action for a violation of vehicle registration may be taken before the second month following the month of expiration.ย Late registration fees from the Department of Motor Vehicles will still apply.
Towing Vehicles with Expired Registration: This new law requires traffic enforcement officials to verify whether a vehicleโs registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles before towing a vehicle for expired registration longer than six months. It also prohibits the vehicle from being towed if the officer or traffic enforcement official does not have immediate access to those records.
Speed Safety System Pilot Program: The cities of Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Glendale, Long Beach, and the City and County of San Francisco may install a limited number of cameras to enforce speed limits under AB 645. It will be a five-year pilot period in school zones, areas with a high volume of collisions or where illegal street racers congregate.ย Recorded violations will be subject to a civil penalty.
So That We All Might Drive Better in the New Year!!!
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