Buckling Down : A Batch of New Traffic Laws Will Go Into Effect Next Year

‘Tis the season to brush up on the slew of new traffic laws that go into effect in 1993. Many of these laws relate to driving safety, while others deal with parking violations and impounded vehicles. Here are a few of the new laws as spelled out in the 1992 Digest of Traffic Legislation.

SEAT BELT LAW TOUGHENED

The biggest safety law of the new year deals with seat belt enforcement. This measure will allow peace officers to stop any motorist for suspected seat belt violation.

Under the current law, officers cannot pull over a vehicle specifically because the driver or passengers are not wearing their seat belts. Now, officers can issue citations for not wearing seat belts only during a stop for some other violation.

Studies conducted by the California Highway Patrol indicate the new law is expected to increase seat belt use by 10%. That translates into 150 additional lives saved a year, according to the study.

Another seat belt-related law, authored by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert of Del Mar, requires that car dealers equip all used passenger vehicles manufactured between 1972 and 1990 with shoulder harnesses as well as lap belts for the front and rear seats. If that condition is not met, special warning notices will be affixed to the car.

BLOCKING DRUNK DRIVERS

Repeat DUI offenders will be up against an interesting law that goes into effect July 1. If a person is convicted of more than one DUI offense in seven years, the court must prohibit that person from operating a vehicle unless a special device is installed in the car.

Called an Ignition Interlock Device, it requires a driver to blow into it to get the car started. If a person fails the breath test, the car will not start.

The DUI offender must pay for the system and it must remain installed from one to three years.

Also effective in July, drunk drivers who have their licenses taken away can get temporary licenses for only 30 days, as opposed to 45 now.

LOWER LIMITS FOR UNDERAGE DRINKERS

A couple of new laws affect minors who drink and drive. The most significant law in the vehicle code calls for a lower blood alcohol level for underage drinkers.

Drivers under 18 years old will be considered legally drunk if their blood alcohol level is .05. The .08 legal limit for adults remains the same.

The law also says that minors will get double the penalty points for driving drunk that adult offenders receive. These extra penalty points go into the DMV’s records and translate into stiffer fines and punishments.

A new section of the penal code also involves minors who drive while intoxicated. It states that it would be unlawful for an adult to relinquish possession of a vehicle to a minor if the adult knew or should have known the minor was intoxicated.

CIVIL PARKING LAWS

In July, parking citations will no longer be criminal offenses and will instead become civil violations. When a person gets a parking ticket, he or she will have to deal with the agency that issued the ticket (the CHP or police) and will not go through the court system.

If a person fails to pay a parking fine or fines, a notice will be forwarded to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which will place a hold on vehicle registration until all the penalties are cleared.

A person would go to court only if they wanted to appeal a parking ticket.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

A new Assembly bill requires that all school buses be equipped with a stop signal arm in addition to the flashing red light already in place. Also, school buses manufactured on or after July 1, 1993, must be equipped with an amber warning light system.

These new warning systems will be activated when children are unloaded from a school bus to cross a highway or a road.

A new section in the education code requires that all elementary and secondary school students who are transported in a school bus or school activity bus be given instruction in emergency procedures and passenger safety.