The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is educating the public on traffic safety laws that were passed during last year’s legislative session and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The laws referenced below took effect on Jan. 1, unless otherwise noted.
Vehicle Registration AB 256 (Dixon)
Existing law requires current month and year tabs to be displayed on the registered vehicle’s rear license plate. Beginning July 1, 2024, and until Jan. 1, 2030, a registration violation shall not be the sole basis for any enforcement action until the third month after expiration. But, if a vehicle is stopped for any other Vehicle Code violation, enforcement action for a violation of registration may be taken before the second month following the month of expiration. Late registration fees from the Department of Motor Vehicles will still apply.
Expired Registration of Vehicles
AB 925 requires that a peace officer or traffic enforcement official to verify the lack of current vehicle registration with the Department of Motor Vehicles before towing a vehicle for expired registration longer than six months and prohibits the vehicle from being towed if the officer or traffic enforcement official does not have immediate access to records.
Vehicles: Speed Safety System Pilot Program
AB 645 (Friedman) allows the cities of Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Glendale, Long Beach, and the City and County of San Francisco to install a limited number of cameras to enforce speed limits during a five-year pilot period in school zones and designated “safety corridors” – locations that have a high occurrence of fatal and injury crashes – and areas known for illegal street racing. Recorded violations will be subject to a civil penalty.
Stopping, Standing and Parking of Vehicles
Designed to increase visibility at crosswalks, AB 413 (Lee) prohibits parking or stopping a vehicle along a curb at least 20 feet from a marked crosswalk or 15 feet of a crosswalk where a curb extension is present. The regulation only applies to the side of the road of the vehicle’s approach to the crosswalk. Local jurisdictions may establish different distances through local ordinances by marking areas with signs or paint.
Cruising
AB 436 (Alvarez) removes city and county authority to regulate cruising via local ordinances. Additionally, the law legalizes “lowrider” vehicles to cruise California’s streets, by removing the height restriction on lowered vehicles.
Automobile Dismantlers: Catalytic Converters
AB 641 (Fong) redefines an automobile dismantler to include individuals in possession of nine or more catalytic converters. Additionally, the law creates penalties for individuals illegally acting as an automobile dismantler. Individuals and businesses which have a legitimate purpose for having catalytic convertors, such as repair shops, will be excluded from penalty.
Catalytic Converters
AB 1519 (Bains) makes it illegal to remove a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) marking from a catalytic converter. It also makes it illegal to possess three or more catalytic converters that have had their VIN markings removed.
SB 55 (Umberg) requires a motor vehicle dealer or retailer to have the catalytic converter engraved or etched with the VIN before a new or used truck or car is sold. The law does allow for the purchaser to decline having the VIN etched or engraved on the catalytic converter.
Ebony Alert emergency notification
SB 673 (Bradford) establishes the “Ebony Alert,” which allows law enforcement agencies to request the CHP to activate an alert for black youth, including young women and girls between 12 to 25 years of age, who are reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, at risk, developmentally disabled, cognitively impaired or who have been abducted.
Endangered Missing Advisory
AB 946 (Nguyen) will aid in the recovery of missing persons who do not meet the age restrictions associated with the AMBER and Silver Alerts. The new law authorizes law enforcement agencies to request the CHP activate the “Endangered Missing Advisory” for public distribution of missing person information within appropriate geographical areas when specific criteria is met.
Vehicle Safety Regulations
SB 68 (McGuire) authorizes the CHP to establish rules and regulations allowing commercial vehicles capable of carrying more than 500 gallons of fuel to exceed the standard 10 hours-of-service limit during States of Emergency declared by the governor. The exception only applies for the purpose of vehicles transporting fuel for refueling aircraft used in emergency-related activities, including fire suppression.
Driver Qualifications for Pupil Transportation
SB 88 (Skinner) will require drivers and their vehicles which are used by a local educational agency to provide pupil transportation for compensation, to meet certain safety requirements.
Signage for Zero-Emission School Buses
SB 775 (Padilla) authorizes a school district, county office of education, or charter school using a zero-emission school bus to transport pupils to place signage on the rear that identifies the school bus as a clean air zero-emission bus. It also authorizes the CHP to issue guidelines governing the size and placement of that signage.
