March 31, 20143 Comments on San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman rides a bicycle
The newly appointed chief of police for the city of San Diego, California is an avid cyclist.
February 26, 20144 Comments on Legislation: Vulnerable user law for California
Among the plethora of bills introduced in the California legislature last week was AB 2398, a propose Vulnerable User Law introduced by Assembly member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael).
February 24, 20143 Comments on East Bay hospital injuries prompt pedestrian safety bill
An epidemic of serious pedestrian injuries outside of a Fremont hospital has prompted an East Bay legislator to introduce legislation that she hopes will make crossing the street to visit the hospital a little safer.
February 21, 20144 Comments on Bicycles bills for 2014 California legislature
Today is the deadline to introduce bills in the California legislature. As of this morning, more 300 bills have been introduced in the Senate and more than 550 have been introduced in the Assembly. Here are some bills I’ll be tracking for the 2014 legislative session in California.
February 21, 20147 Comments on Bicycle tax legislation introduced in California
California State Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) yesterday introduced a bill that would authorize local governments to impose, as a special tax, a point of sale tax on new bicycles.
February 12, 20141 Comment on California legislator proposes new rules for vehicular cell phone use
California Assembly member Jim Frazier (D-Antioch) yesterday introduced a bill to increase education on cell phone use and stiffen penalties for those who are caught using a cell phone while driving.
AB 1646 would make these changes to California Vehicle Code:
AB 1646 follows on the heels of AB 1555, also introduced by Frazier. Under existing law, prosecuting drivers who cause “great bodily injury” while the motorist uses a cell phone can be difficult to prosecute, with violators often receiving a $20 citation and not much more. AB 1555 changes the California penal code to explicitly make driving with an electronic device prosecutable as the crime of vehicular manslaughter.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, cellphone use while driving is now the leading cause of “driver distraction” crashes in California and has been shown to be as dangerous as drunk driving. The California Police Chief Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California support AB 1555 as efforts to improve highway safety.
Frazier introduced a bill in 2013 to eliminate the hands-free device exception available for drivers under California law. AB 313 died in committee last May.