New Traffic Laws Go Into Effect With New Year

Beginning Jan. 1, police officers may stop drivers for failing to buckle up, parking violations will no longer be criminal offenses and repeat drunk drivers will have to take breath tests before they turn on their ignitions.

These are among the 400 new California laws which go into effect on New Year’s Day, as outlined Monday by officials from the California Highway Patrol, Department of Motor Vehicles and other agencies.

The seat belt law means that officers will be able to stop a driver whose only violation is failure to wear a seat belt. Until now, police and the California Highway Patrol could cite unbelted drivers only if they had broken another law, such as running a red light.

“It just makes it a more effective enforcement tool. We estimate that this will save 400 to 500 lives,” said Robert Carter, CHP legislative representative.

Officials warned that people also will be cited for not wearing their seat belts properly, such as moving the belts aside so they don’t wrinkle clothes.

The CHP will begin setting up seat belt checkpoints this month to tell drivers about the new law. Carter stressed that the checkpoints are only to inform not to catch drivers unbuckled. But the law will be strictly enforced next month, officials said.

Also beginning Jan. 1, anyone twice convicted of drunk driving will be required to install a breath-analyzer device in his or her car. To start the car, the driver must breathe into the device, which detects alcohol. When it does, the car won’t start. The device is able to tell if another person is breathing into it.

The new law also outlaws the lending of a car to someone whose own car has a breath device.

The cost of these alcohol detectors, which ranges from $400 to $600, will be borne by the person convicted of drunk driving.

Another major change effective in 1993 will be the statewide expansion of freeway service patrols which have proven successful in Los Angeles County. This service tows stranded motorists off freeways when they are blocking traffic.

“They only operate during peak times. It’s strictly for congestion relief, to open up freeways,” said Bill Halloran, a legislative representative with the Automobile Club.

Additionally, parking citations will become civil violations. Previously, drivers who did not pay their parking tickets were assessed a criminal penalty. Now, the Department of Motor Vehicles will put a hold on renewal of vehicle registration until the ticket is paid.

Another new seat belt law pro hibits used car dealers from selling cars built between 1972 and 1990 that don’t have front and rear seat lap belts and shoulder harnesses, unless warning notices are affixed on the car and on one rear seat lap belt. The sticker must warn people about the dangers of only wearing a lap belt.

Another law cracking down on smog polluters enables the use of remote sensors to identify vehicles not complying with smog regulations.