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New California Traffic Laws Going Into Effect For 2012

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – California drivers will have to follow a number of new traffic laws in 2012 that range from stricter DUI punishment laws to dictating new seating arrangements for older children.

The California Highway Patrol said motorists should be aware that changes to child safety laws passed by California lawmakers in 2011 require children under the age of eight and shorter than 4’9” to ride in a car seat or booster seat. The law also requires children to sit in the back seat unless there are no available safe seats.

Drivers caught breaking the booster seat law can face fines starting at $475.

Some of the other new regulations include:

Vehicles are now also explicitly forbidden from crossing double parallel solid white lines, commonly found in carpool lanes on highways.

A new adjustment to sobriety checkpoint regulations now prevents authorities from impounding vehicles at checkpoints when the driver’s only offense is failing to hold a driver’s license.

Repeat offenders can have their driver’s license suspended for 10 years if they have been convicted of at least three DUIs.

Electric vehicles must be plugged in for recharging when parking in an EV-designated space.

>> CHP List Of Notable New Traffic Laws (.pdf)

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  • JMHO55

    Have you all been drinking already? “Repeat offenders can have their driver’s license SUSPECTED for 10 years if they have been convicted of at least three DUIs.”

    HA HA HA HA HA

  • TLor daGama

    Oh goodie, more rules, just what we always wanted!
    That car seat rule is for the birds I know some adults that are 4’9″ tall are
    they going to have to ride in a car seat too? That law is really prejudicial a lot of kids that age are just flat not going to fit in any baby car seat!
    The nimrods in our legislature do not live in the real world at all.

  • sassafras

    Nothing about prescription drug users the worst menace on the freeways and roads? I know people on legal drugs who cannot walk a straight line at all but they hobble to their cars and pickups and off they go. Their drivers license should be suspected lol. Watch out when ya open your door on your electric cars if they have been plugged in to long ya might get ELECTROCUTED :{ :(

  • slick

    Lawmakers are just trying to figure out any way that they can to take money from the stupid people that keep voting for them. Vote them out.

  • ORLANDO SAN JUAN

    welcome to CUBA-FORNIA the future of commies……..are freedom as citizens seems to be coming to an end.. we must stop this and stop this soon before its to late….vote them lowlife out off office…….if not we will all live in fear of our goverment just as some countries do …. we have lost family & friends to the war over seas so that other countries could be better….WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN AMERICA ??????????????

  • mike

    They should pass a new law that everyone in california get’s a brand new jar of vaseline or ky jelly so we can take these new laws and tax hikes that we keep getting shoved up our arse a little easier

  • LeaveCAnow

    Can’t you hear the$$$$$$$$$$$$ down at the state capitol. This is not about safety for Californian’s it is about special interest groups lining the pockets of California law makers. California politics is broken and this is just another example why California should have a part-time unpaid legislature.

  • marc

    I like the one where they can regulate a sign on your vehicle! Doesnt that fall under free speech???? 8 years old in a booster Mine as well wait till they finsh high school??

  • LC

    It says CHILDREN under the age of 8 AND under 4’9″. So unless your friend is under 8 years old, she’s good to go.

  • Russ

    So right, New laws for cal. & usa

  • LC

    I’d be happier to be paying our lawmakers if they were spending their time auditing the current laws and eliminating old, ridiculous ones instead of making new ones. Or how about making punishments more harsh for REAL criminals.

  • http://johnconner1984.wordpress.com johnconner1984

    happy new fears!

    Obama Signs Detention Bill NDAA S1867 into Law

    http://johnconner1984.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/obama-signs-detention-bill-ndaa-s1867/

  • Ralph Carlson

    There are 745 new laws, which can be defined as “Nanny State” by those on the right or “Big Brother” by those on the left. My money is on that we have more “Big Brother” laws. Why is it that those on the right who cry out for less goverrment are the very same ones who give us those “Big Brother” laws??

  • trj

    So if they are in this country illegally AND they have no drivers license that is TWO crimes they have committed and should have their vehicle towed.

  • bobby

    I AGREE !!!

  • nothingchanges

    15 more days and they can stick their Marxist commie laws where the sun don’t shine. ;)

  • nothingchanges

    You mean like this ?: Troopers still were working to determine why McRae struck the truck, but nearby residents told officials the truck had been seen moving as slow as 5 miles per hour in that area.

    “Hu was issued citations for having an overweight vehicle, not having a commercial driver’s license and for not being able to speak English while driving a commercial vehicle. The citations were issued by the state Motor Carrier Compliance Division”

  • moreofthesame

    Don’t you love living in a nanny state that will dictate to you what you can and cannot do? It beginning to look a lot like Communism to me!

  • JetManJR

    Oh No!!! Please don’t SUSPECT my driver’s license for 10 years

  • boozy

    being a citizen of the socialist republic of Kalifornia, doesn/t mean if you have not drivers license, you also do not have insurance?…that is a big no no…in Kalifornia…or is this a race thing..if you are mexican, you get a pass, if you are a cracker, you get nailed.. hmmmm which is it.

  • KF

    AHHH..most of those laws authored by left leaning Democrats….

  • nothingchanges

    “if you are mexican, you get a pass, if you are a cracker, you get nailed.. hmmmm which is it.” In Arkansas its the opposite ;)

  • CM

    LMFAO!! Nicely said LC hahahaha

  • CM

    I’ll all for it, my 6 year old is still in a booster even though the old law was 6 years old didnt have to be. Im glad they upped the age and height, Its for SAFETY people! And the booster seats for older kids arent even expensive, so stop complaining, then we wonder why our kids dont wanna listen to rules/laws etc.

  • rick

    kaliforina, mother russia is so proud of you well done comrade

  • mike z

    SHEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!

  • mike z

    Did anyone take into account that if a vehicle rolls over a child has a better chance of being killed due to their heads being closer the vehicle’s roofline???

  • http://www.washingtontrafficticketattorney.com/2954 » New California Traffic Laws Going Into Effect For 2012 Traffic Ticket Legal News

    [...] Read more… Comments Off [...]

  • JMHO55

    Why can’t auto manufacturers make adjustable seat belts that accommodate shorter stature persons — children and adults? If height is the issue, age should have nothing to do with it. Either everyone under 4’9″ needs a boost or seat belts should be made to fit a variety of heights.

  • Missy

    The sobriety check is an unconstitutional new law. If an illegal is stopped and he does NOT have a drivers license he will be given a ticket AND THAT’S ALL…. They will not longer impound their cars because it will be a hardship on their livelihood They can not afford the $1400. to retrieve their vehicle from the impound yard! In L.A. country alone there is an estimated 35,000 vehicles impounded each year. AND L. A. IS IN A FINANCIAL CRUNCH??? Illegal is illegal. What is it about this government they they refuse to enforce the law?

  • mmmm

    Exactly!! It really makes me mad that it is clearly based on lawmakers relationship with manufacturers rather than the safety of the child. Grrr.

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