BILL NUMBER: AB 1492	CHAPTERED  10/10/07

	CHAPTER  451
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 10, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 10, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 12, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 31, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 18, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Laird
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Beall)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2007

   An act to add Section 24617 to the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1492, Laird. Vehicles: transit buses: right-of-way.
   Existing law requires a driver to yield the right-of-way to an
approaching authorized emergency vehicle that is sounding a siren and
has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting a red light.
   This bill would, in the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, if the
applicable entity approves a resolution, authorize a transit bus to
be equipped with a specified yield right-of-way sign on the left rear
of the bus. The bill would require a participating transit agency to
undertake a public education program to encourage motorists to yield
to a transit bus when the sign is activated.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 24617 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   24617.  (a) A transit bus may be authorized to be equipped with a
yield right-of-way sign on the left rear of the bus. The yield
right-of-way sign may flash simultaneously with the rear turn signal
lamps, but is not required to do so. The sign shall be both of the
following:
   (1) Designed to warn a person operating a motor vehicle
approaching the rear of the bus that the bus is entering traffic.
   (2) Illuminated by a red flashing light when the bus is signaling
in preparation for entering a traffic lane after having stopped to
receive or discharge passengers.
   (b) Nothing in this section requires a transit agency to install
the yield right-of-way sign described in subdivision (a).
   (c) This section does not relieve the driver of a transit bus from
the duty to drive the bus with due regard for the safety of all
persons and property. This section does not exempt the driver of a
transit bus from the requirements of Section 21804.
   (d) This section applies only to the Santa Cruz Metropolitan
Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority,
if the governing board of the applicable district approves a
resolution, after a public hearing on the issue, requesting that this
section be made applicable to it.
   (e) Each participating transit agency shall undertake a public
education program to encourage motorists to yield to a transit bus
when the sign specified in subdivision (a) is activiated.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is
necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the
meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution
because of unique circumstances of community familiarity with the
program in Section 1, applicable only to the Santa Cruz Metropolitan
Transit District and the Santa Clara County Transit District.