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SACRAMENTO, CA - As Californians ring in the New Year Sunday, several new traffic laws will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.
The laws were passed by the state Legislature and then signed by Gov. Brown earlier this year, California Highway Patrol Commander Fran Clader said.
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1) Child safety seats
Children will be required to ride in a car seat or a booster seat until they are 8 years old, or reach a height of 4'9". Clader said children who do not meet the age or height requirement must ride in the back seat, unless there is no back seat or it is occupied with other children.
2) DUI checkpoints
Drivers are required to stop and submit to a sobriety checkpoint. However, police are not allowed to impound a vehicle for 30 days if a driver's only offense at the DUI checkpoint is that they don't hold a valid driver's license, Clader said.
3) Reckless driving convictions
People convicted of reckless driving will be able to apply for a restricted driver's license before the completion of their one-year suspension, if they meet specific requirements, including installing an Ignition Interlock Device, Clader said.
4) Crossing lines
Clader said vehicles will not be allowed to cross double parallel solid white lines, except where permitted.
5) Double fine zone
A part of Vasco Road between Interstate 580 in Alameda County and Walnut Boulevard in Contra Costa County will be designated as a double fine zone until Jan. 1, 2017.
6) Plugging in your EV
Electric Vehicles (EV) must be plugged in for refueling when in an EV parking spot, or face being towed. Clader added a person cannot block, obstruct or bar access to an EV parking spot.
7) Ads on vehicles
Local governments will be able to regulate ad signs on any motor vehicle parked or left standing on a public street, except for signs painted directly on or permanently fixed on the vehicle for decoration, identification or display, Clader said.
8) Repeat DUI offenders
A person, whose license has been revoked for 10 years because of three or more DUIs, can apply for a restricted driver's license after five years if the person installs an Ignition Interlock Device. Clader added the DMV can terminate a restricted license if the IID requirements are not met.
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