The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Local
    • Palmdale
    • Lancaster
    • Los Angeles County
    • Littlerock
    • Lake Los Angeles
    • Rosamond
    • Edwards AFB
    • Acton
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Show Search

New traffic laws go into effect across California

by The AV Times Staff • January 1, 2021

PALMDALE – Several new traffic laws have gone into effect in California, including those involving safe space for Caltrans or emergency vehicles and rescuing children from hot cars.

Assembly Bill 2285, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in September, establishes potential fines for motorists who do not slow down and, whenever possible, change lanes when encountering a Caltrans vehicle, tow truck or any emergency vehicle with lights flashing on a highway.

Previously, penalties were only imposed when violators failed to take precautions and make safe space for fire and law enforcement vehicles. The new law clarifies that Caltrans equipment and tow trucks conducting operations on a highway be given the same courtesy.

However, AB 2285 does not specify that motorists must move over if there might be conflicts with other drivers, or if conditions don’t allow for it. But they must slow down. Otherwise, CHP officers could write them a $50 ticket.

Also starting with the New Year, AB 2717, signed into law by the governor at the end of September, amends existing law concerning leaving children under the age of 6 unattended in vehicles.

Prior to Jan. 1, state law mandated criminal penalties, including potential felony charges, for leaving children unsupervised.

It also exempted good Samaritans from civil and criminal liability if they forcibly enter a vehicle to rescue a stranded animal expiring from extreme heat or cold. However, there haven’t been exemptions for breaking into a vehicle to save a child.

AB 2717 changed that, specifically exempting a good Samaritan who rescues an endangered child from a locked vehicle from civil and criminal liability, “if the property damage or trespass occurs while the person is rescuing a child 6 years of age or younger,” according to the legislation.

A third new law, AB 47, which was signed into law in 2019 and doesn’t take effect until July 1, allows the California Department of Motor Vehicles to add a penalty point to a motorist’s driving record if he or she receives two tickets in a 36-month span for talking on a mobile phone without a hands-free device.

Texting while driving also applies under the statute.

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Home, Lancaster, Los Angeles County, Palmdale

6 comments for "New traffic laws go into effect across California"

  1. Demented Joe says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    Well at least you can still get road head.

  2. Tyrone says

    January 4, 2021 at 1:26 pm

    Will I still be pulled over and harassed for driving and being black?

    • AV Illegal says

      January 4, 2021 at 6:19 pm

      Yes….

    • Demented Joe says

      January 4, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      Probably more because you are a poor driver.

  3. Larold says

    January 3, 2021 at 9:39 am

    You’re right. I’ll just continue eating my doughnut.

  4. AV Illegal says

    January 2, 2021 at 1:12 pm

    Whoops…sorry, my kid is 6 1/2 years old. I get to sue you now for breaking my window and stopping my kid from dying.

Recent Comments

  • America's Most Impressed on Op-ed: Choice is democracy: “Wow! Powerful, concise argument will make people think.” May 15, 21:23
  • America's Most in Love with Mexico on Readers Speak Out! (new): “The Mexican people are so warm, the food is so good, and the women are ……….sigh, a gift from heaven.…” May 15, 21:04
  • Mental Illness on Motorist found dead at freeway transition ramps: “Suicide.” May 15, 20:55
  • Missing From Lancaster on LASD searching for missing girl, 15, from Lancaster: “Exposition Park.” May 15, 20:52
  • K9 on Dog helps collar suspect in Palmdale: ““The suspect reportedly hid in a storage container in his yard…” Another low IQ resident from Palmdale…” May 15, 20:51

Copyright © 2022 · The AV Times LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use