Welcome To 2009!!! New Laws You Need To Know…

Hi All,

Well, 2009 is here and it brings with it the hope for health, happiness, prosperity and a whole host of new laws here in Sunny California. The Claremont Police Department offers a wonderful service called eWatch which updates subscribers via email on important happenings within the City and, when it applies, within the County or the State. The following is taken from their latest missive and I thought it was important information for everyone so here it is…

A number of new laws go into effect in 2009. A summary of some of the new laws are shown below.

Texting While Driving: This new law makes it an infraction to write, send, or read text-based communication on an electronic wireless communications device, such as a cell phone, while driving a motor vehicle.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Zero Tolerance: This new law prohibits a convicted DUI offender from operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .01 percent or greater while on probation for DUI. The law requires the driver to submit to a Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) test, a portable breath test to determine the presence of alcohol. If the driver refuses, or if the driver submits and has a BAC of .01 or greater, a citation will be issued, the driver’s license will be taken and driving privileges will be suspended. In addition, the vehicle will be impounded.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS): This new law allows a portable GPS device to be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield on the passenger side of the vehicle, or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side. These are the only two locations on a windshield where a GPS device can be mounted. The GPS device can only be used for navigational purposes while the motor vehicle is being operated, and it is required to be mounted outside of an airbag deployment zone.

Motorcycles: This new law changes the definition of a motorcycle by deleting the weight limitation and deleting the separate definition for electrically powered motorcycles. The law will now allow fully enclosed, three-wheeled vehicles to have access to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of occupancy.

Clean Air Stickers: Misuse and Penalties: This new law makes it an infraction for anyone who forges, counterfeits, falsifies, passes, or attempts to pass, acquire possess, sell, or offer for sale a genuine or counterfeit “Clean Air Sticker.”

911 Telephone System Abuse: This new law increases the penalties for any person who knowingly uses, or allows the use of, the 911 telephone system for any reason other than an emergency.

Special License Plates: This new law, when approved by local authorities, allows veterans whose vehicles display plates honoring Pearl Harbor Survivors, Legion of Valor recipients, former American Prisoners of War, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, or Purple Heart recipients to park their vehicles that weigh not more than 6,000 pounds gross weight, without charge, in any metered parking space.

Stun Guns/Less Lethal Weapon at College: Prohibits the open display or exposure of stun gun or less than lethal weapon on public or private college campus, without written permission of the college president or chancellor or designee.

More information on new laws that impact driving and vehicles will be listed on the California DMV web site (click on the DMV link below).

Have a safe new year. DMV Website

Take care all and have a great day!