BILL NUMBER: AB 348	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 25, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Buchanan
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonilla)
   (  Coauthor:   Senator  
DeSaulnier   Coauthors:   Senators  
DeSaulnier   and Hancock  )

                        FEBRUARY 10, 2011

   An act to add and repeal Section 97.4 of the Streets and Highways
Code, relating to highways.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 348, as amended, Buchanan. Highways: Safety Enhancement-Double
Fine Zone.
   Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to
designate a state highway segment as a Safety Enhancement-Double Fine
Zone if specified conditions are met, including that the governing
board of the city or county in which the segment is located has by
resolution indicated that it supports the designation.
   This bill would, notwithstanding these requirements and until
January 1, 2017, designate the segment of county highway known as
Vasco Road, between the State Highway Route 580 junction in Alameda
County and the Walnut Boulevard intersection in Contra Costa County,
as a Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone upon the approval of the
boards of supervisors of Alameda County and Contra Costa County. The
bill would also impose specified duties on the  department
and  local governing bodies regarding that double fine zone.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  yes
  no  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 97.4 is added to the Streets and Highways Code,
to read:
   97.4.  (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 97, the
segment of county highway known as Vasco Road, between the State
Highway Route 580 junction in Alameda County and the Walnut Boulevard
intersection in Contra Costa County, shall be designated as the
Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone upon the approval of
resolutions of the Alameda County and Contra Costa County boards of
supervisors supporting that designation.
   (b) Each local governing body in whose jurisdiction a double fine
zone is designated by this section shall, prior to the establishment
of a double fine zone, do all of the following:
   (1) Undertake a public awareness campaign to inform the public of
the double fine zone designation, where it is located, its purpose,
and its consequences.
   (2) Where appropriate, implement increased traffic safety
enhancements, enforcement, and other roadway safety measures in
coordination with the establishment of the double fine zone.
   (c) The Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone is subject
to the rules and regulations adopted by the department prescribing
uniform standards for warning signs to notify motorists that,
pursuant to Section 42010 of the Vehicle Code, increased penalties
apply for traffic violations that are committed within a Safety
Enhancement-Double Fine Zone as authorized under Section 97.
   (d) The  department or the  local authority
having jurisdiction over the Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double
Fine Zone shall place and maintain the warning signs identifying
these segments by stating that a "Special Safety Zone Region Begins
Here" and a "Special Safety Zone Ends Here."  The department
shall adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the Vasco
Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone under this section.

   (e) The Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone does not
increase the civil liability of the state or local authority having
jurisdiction over the highway segment under Division 3.6 (commencing
with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code or any other law
relating to civil liability.
   (f) (1) Only the base fine shall be enhanced pursuant to this
section.
   (2) Notwithstanding any other law, any additional penalty,
forfeiture, or assessment imposed by any other statute shall be based
on the amount of the base fine before enhancement or doubling and
shall not be based on the amount of the enhanced fine imposed
pursuant to this section.
   (g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends
that date.