CHP releases list of new laws for vehicles, motorists for 2011

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CHP releases list of new laws for vehicles, motorists for 2011

Friday, December 31, 2010

Amador County now has its own provision in a state law paving the way to provide access to roadways for small electric cars, also known as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles.

AB584, sponsored by Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Sept. 29, and allows Amador County the same flexibility in designing rules and routes for NEVs as currently allowed in Orange and Placer counties.

Amador Citizens for Transportation Options, a local nonprofit group, solicited Huber's help almost two years ago to help make the desired changes to the existing vehicle code.

NEVs are low-speed vehicles that may be used on state highways under certain conditions. Cities and counties seeking to expand areas where the vehicles may be operated are required to prepare a report to the California Legislature, including a description of the NEV transportation plan, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the plan, and a recommendation as to whether the authorization to establish NEV transportation plans should be expanded statewide.

Additionally, discussions are encouraged between the Legislature, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the California Highway Patrol regarding the adoption of a new classification for licensing motorists who use NEVs.

Under the provisions of the new law, Amador County, Amador City, and the cities of Jackson and Sutter Creek, have until Jan. 1, 2015, to submit their initial reports, and must present their full NEV transportation plans by Jan. 1, 2016. NEV operators must also possess a California driver's license and comply with established financial liability requirements.

Jan. 1 also ushers in a handful of other new laws for California's motoring public.

A bill sponsored by Assemblyman Roger Niello lays out age-specific requirements drivers must fulfill to obtain a motorcycle instruction permit. Among new requirements for drivers younger than 21 years of age is the successful completion of a motorcycle safety course administered by the CHP.

New rules to combat a rising tide of motorcycle thefts makes it a misdemeanor to possess, give, or lend any device designed to bypass the factory-installed ignition of a motorcycle in order to start the engine without the manufacturer's key. It will also be illegal to possess any motorcycle ignition or part of motorcycle ignition, with the intent to unlawfully take or drive, or to facilitate the unlawful taking or driving of a motorcycle, without the consent of the owner. Items of hardware, including bolt cutters, electrical tape, wire cutters, wire strippers, or Allen wrenches, with the intent to aid in the unlawful taking or driving of a motorcycle without the consent of the owner, is included in the new prohibitions.

An amended section of California's Vehicle Code will now allow a "video event recorder" to be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of a vehicle windshield on the passenger side, or a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the vehicle windshield on the driver's side, outside of an airbag deployment zone. It also makes it legal to mount the video event recorder in a 5-inch square in the center uppermost portion of the interior of the windshield. The new law also defines a video event recorder and requires a vehicle equipped with one to have a notice posted in a visible location, which states that a passenger's conversation may be recorded. In addition, this law lays out rules for recording events, notes who the rightful owner of the footage is, and who is entitled to a copy of the recording.

Much like an AMBER Alert, new rules for the activation of the Emergency Alert System for a "Blue Alert" would occur if a law enforcement officer has been killed, suffers serious bodily injury, or is assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect has fled the scene of the offense, if the investigating agency has determined that the suspect poses an imminent threat to the public or other law enforcement personnel.

A Blue Alert will be issued if a detailed description of the suspect's vehicle or license plate is available for broadcast and if authorities determine public dissemination of available information may help avert further harm or accelerate apprehension of a suspect.

Several other miscellaneous vehicle code sections were added or amended to take effect Jan. 1.

Section 667 of the Vehicle Code was added to define a "utility trailer" as a trailer or semi-trailer used solely for the transportation of the user's personal property which cannot be used in commerce, cannot exceed gross weight of 10,000 pounds, but can be used for transportation of livestock.

Section 5201 of the Vehicle Code was amended to require license plates to be mounted parallel to the ground so the characters are upright and display from left to right.

Another code section allowing drivers of vehicles to pass on the right under specified conditions was amended to clarify that it does not prohibit a bicyclist from passing on the right in either a bicycle lane or on a shoulder.

One bill passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor this year doesn't go into effect until Jan. 1, 2012, but is worth highlighting, as it attempts to provide judges with the means to deal with DUI repeat offenders. AB 1601 added language to the vehicle code authorizing courts to order a 10-year revocation of a driver's license if a person has been convicted of three or more DUIs. However, under this new law, a motorist will be allowed to apply for reinstatement of his or her driver's license with the Department of Motor Vehicles after five years if the person installs an "ignition interlock device" in their vehicle. It also allows the DMV to terminate the restricted license if the ID requirements are not met.

New laws outlined in this article are only a partial list of new laws adopted for 2011. For complete information on bills enacted in 2010, refer to the Legislative Counsel website at

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov./