from
MR. TRAFFIC at
www.mrtraffic.com

Summary of New California Driving Laws for 2012

During 2011, the California State Legislature approved a number of new laws of interest to Automobile Club of Southern California members and motorists. Unless otherwise noted, these measures take effect January 1, 2012.

Child Seats: SB 949: This law raises the requirement for a child to be in a child seat or booster seat until they are EIGHT years old OR 4ft.9inches tall IN THE BACKSEAT!

Drunk Drivers. Beginning January 1, 2012, AB 1601 authorizes judges to revoke for up to 10 years the driver's license of any person convicted of three or more DUIs in a 10-year period. Current law allows for a license revocation of three years for someone with three or more DUIs in a 10-year period.

AB353 prohibits law enforcement from impounding a vehicle at a sobriety checkpoint if the ONLY offense is not having a valid drivers license. Police must make a reasonable attempt to find the registered owner or a licensed driver to drive the vehicle away.
AB520 allows a person convicted of a "WET RECKLESS" (alcohol related) to apply for a "restricted license" early if they have complied with all court ordered programs AND install an ignition interlock device.

Vehicle License Fees/Registration Fees: AB 2173 The vehicle license fee goes back up to 1.15% of a vehicle's assessed value (from the previous .065%) and SB89 raises the registration fee to $43 per year (up from $31).

Vehicle Purchase fees AB1215: Beginning on JULY 1st, 2012, car dealers can charge an extra $80 for electronic document processing or $65 for manual processing to the DMV. It also requires USED CAR DEALERS to provide a vehicle history report from the NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE INFORMATION SERVICE prior to selling a used car. This does NOT apply to Motorcycles, off-road vehicles or RV's.