The start of the new year brought new traffic laws for
California drivers.
Over 900 regulations became law as of Jan. 1, and car owners
must be educated about the changes, said AAA spokesperson Sean
Comey.
The start of the new year brought new traffic laws for California drivers.
Over 900 regulations became law as of Jan. 1, and car owners must be educated about the changes, said AAA spokesperson Sean Comey.
“Ignorance of a new law will not get you out of a ticket,” Comey said. “Some of the regulations that (have) taken effect will have a direct impact on our lives, and in some cases, our wallets.”
Some of the more pressing laws that will affect a broad range of motorists include increases in several fees and penalties paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The fee for a driver’s license will increase from $15 to $24, a duplicate license will cost $19 instead of last year’s $12 fee, and vehicle registration will be raised from $28 to $31.
The revenue derived from these increases will be used to support the California Highway Patrol, the DMV and the Air Resources Board – a committee that tries to cut down on air pollution, Comey said.
Motorists will also see an increase in fines for seat belt violations, to where a $20 fine last year could more than double to as much as $58 this year.
The fines will be increased by allowing penalty assessment and court costs to be added in, according to the statement.
An additional $100 can be tacked on to fines begotten from the unauthorized use of disabled parking spaces by a new law that authorizes local governments to assess the penalty and make the increase if they see fit, Comey said.
A multitude of components make up the cumulative amount of a fine for unlawful use of a disabled parking space or placard, and this increase is just another add on, Comey said. But this one will significantly boost fees because of its magnitude.
Because the add on is discretionary of local governments, whether or not it will be added to an individual’s fine is dependent upon each community’s issues with handicapped spaces, Comey said.
“If there’s a rash of people using disabled parking spaces, with a significant portion that needs access to them, then there could be more of a reason (to add the increase), Comey said. “It’s up to (governments) to determine what’s appropriate use of this new ability to levy this increased fine.”
A current law that prohibits a person from watching television while driving is being amended to include current technology.
The new law prohibits driving a vehicle that is equipped with a video monitor or screen capable of receiving a video signal when the screen is operating or visible to the driver, according to the statement.
“Under the previous law, theoretically a driver could have a DVD player going and could be technically not breaking the law,” Comey said. “The law is designed to keep pace with new technology, with DVDs and other things becoming more affordable and popular.”
Currently, most cars that come equipped with viewing screens are located in the back seat, but add-on devices may be purchased and mounted in the front of the car, Comey said.
“It’s human nature that if it’s visible to the driver your attention is going to go over to it, no matter how hard you’re trying to pay attention to the road,” Comey said.
There are some specific exemptions, such as large vehicles that have cameras mounted at the rear with a monitor in the front seat that assists people in parking, Comey said.
“But watching a movie or a football game (while driving), it’s not a good idea,” he said, “and now it’s illegal.”
Other regulations include a red light camera reform that will require local governments to retain control over their red light camera programs, addressing concerns that red light cameras are being manipulated for profit, and a requirement that motor vehicle manufacturers disclose whether a vehicle is equipped with recording devices such as “black boxes” in the vehicle owner’s manual, according to the statement.
