CA: New DMV laws affect traffic schools, young motorcyclists

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_16896984


New DMV laws affect traffic schools, young motorcyclists

SACRAMENTO — Some California drivers will be affected by new laws going into effect Jan. 2, the Department of Motor Vehicles announced Wednesday.
Motorcycles
People younger than 21 will be required to take an approved motorcycle safety course before they can obtain an instruction permit and begin practice riding a motorcycle. The instruction permit must be held at least six months before a class M motorcycle license will be issued.
Traffic schools
Drivers who are cited for violations and want to take a DMV-approved traffic school course will have the option of doing it online or through home study. Previously, the DMV only approved schools which held classes in buildings and had live instructors.
The same law provides for the implementation of changes in traffic school policies, which came out of a DMV study.
Alternative vehicle stickers
Another new law extends the expiration date on stickers which permit certain vehicles to operate in high occupancy vehicle lanes with a single occupant.
Hybrid vehicles with a yellow sticker may use the lanes until July 1, 2011. White stickers, issued to fully-electric and compressed natural gas vehicles, will be good until Jan. 1, 2015. A third sticker, for plug-in hybrids, will start to be issued and will be good until Jan. 1, 2015.
Fire department engineers
Firefighters who drive engines, ladder trucks and other apparatus will no longer be required to hold a commercial driver's
license. Instead, a firefighter endorsement will be issued for their regular license. Most engineers currently hold a commercial operator's license, but Aaron Lowe, interim training chief for the Chico Fire Department, said the firefighter endorsement is a good idea.
"It's a positive move that will allow firefighters to stay focused on training for what they actually do, which is drive under emergency conditions and maneuver big vehicles in tight spaces," he said.
Other new laws taking effect July 1, 2011, include a change on driver's licenses, which requires an organ donor section to be checked yes or no.
Another prevents local jurisdictions from passing traffic laws already covered by the California Vehicle Code.
A third law, taking effect Jan. 1, 2012, authorizes courts to revoke the license for 10 years of people found guilty of a third or subsequent DUI violation.
It allows for reinstatement in five years, if certain conditions are met.