BILL NUMBER: SB 1303	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Simitian

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2012

   An act to amend Sections 21455.5 and 40518 of the Vehicle Code,
relating to vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1303, as introduced, Simitian. Vehicles: automated traffic
enforcement systems.
   (1) Existing law authorizes the limit line, intersection, or other
places where a driver is required to stop to be equipped with an
automated enforcement system, as defined, if the system meets certain
requirements. Existing law authorizes a governmental agency to
contract out the operation of the system under certain circumstances,
except for specified activities, that include, among other things,
establishing guidelines for selection of location. A violation of the
Vehicle Code is a crime.
   This bill would require that those requirements include
identifying the system by signs posted within 200 feet of an
intersection where a system is operating. The bill would require that
automated traffic enforcement systems installed as of January 1,
2013, be identified no later than January 1, 2014. The bill would
require the governmental agency that operates an automated traffic
enforcement system to develop uniform guidelines for specified
purposes and to establish procedures to ensure compliance with those
guidelines. The bill would require, for systems installed as of
January 1, 2013, that a governmental agency that operates an
automated traffic enforcement system establish those guidelines by
January 1, 2014. The bill would require the governmental agency to
adopt a finding of fact establishing the need for the system at a
specific location for reasons related to safety for those systems
installed after January 1, 2013.
   The bill would prohibit a governmental agency that proposes to
install or operate an automated traffic enforcement system from
considering revenue generation, beyond recovering its actual costs of
operating the system, as a factor when considering whether or not to
install or operate a system within its local jurisdiction. The bill
would require the manufacturer or supplier that operates an automated
traffic enforcement system, in cooperation with the governmental
agency, to submit an annual report to the Judicial Council that
includes specified information.
   (2) Existing law provides special written, mailed notice to appear
procedures in connection with certain alleged violations recorded by
an automated traffic enforcement system and provides that whenever a
written notice to appear has been issued by a peace officer or by a
qualified employee of a law enforcement agency on a form approved by
the Judicial Council for an alleged traffic violation recorded by an
automated traffic enforcement system, and delivered by mail within 15
days of the alleged violation to the current address of the
registered owner of the vehicle on file with the Department of Motor
Vehicles, with a certificate of mailing obtained as evidence of
service, an exact and legible duplicate copy of the notice when filed
with the magistrate constitutes a complaint to which the defendant
may enter a plea.
   This bill would expand the information that must be included on a
notice to appear. The bill would authorize the mailing of a specified
courtesy notice or any other notice other than a notice to appear by
the issuing agency, manufacturer, or supplier of the automated
traffic enforcement system to the registered owner or the alleged
violator prior to issuing a notice to appear. The bill would require
that this notice contain specified information and, beginning January
1, 2014, be on a form approved by the Judicial Council, following
consultation with the traffic and transportation committee of the
California Peace Officers' Association. The bill would prohibit a
manufacturer or supplier of an automated traffic enforcement system
or the governmental agency operating the system from altering the
notice to appear or any other form approved by the Judicial Council.
If a form is found to have been materially altered, the bill would
authorize that the citation, based on the altered form, be dismissed.
The bill would also require that the citation be dismissed if a
magistrate or judge makes a finding that there are grounds for
dismissal, in certain circumstances.
   (3) Because it is unlawful and constitutes an infraction for any
person to violate, or fail to comply with any provision of the
Vehicle Code, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program
by creating a new crime.
   (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 21455.5 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

   21455.5.  (a) The limit line, the intersection, or a place
designated in Section 21455, where a driver is required to stop, may
be equipped with an automated  traffic  enforcement system
if the governmental agency utilizing the system meets all of the
following requirements:
   (1) Identifies the system by signs  posted within 200 feet of
an intersection where a system is operating  that clearly
indicate the system's presence and are visible to traffic approaching
from all directions  , or posts signs at all major entrances
to the city, including, at a minimum, freeways, bridges, and state
highway routes   in which the automated traffic
enforcement system is being utilized to issue citations. A
governmental agency utilizing such a system does not need to post
signs visible to traffic approaching the intersection from directions
not subject to the automated traffic enforcement system. Automated
traffic enforcement systems installed as of January 1, 2013, shall be
identified no later than January 1, 2014  .
   (2)  If it locates   Locates  the system
at an intersection  ,  and ensures that the system
meets the criteria specified in Section 21455.7.
   (b) Prior to issuing citations under this section, a local
jurisdiction utilizing an automated traffic enforcement system shall
commence a program to issue only warning notices for 30 days. The
local jurisdiction shall also make a public announcement of the
automated traffic enforcement system at least 30 days prior to the
commencement of the enforcement program.
   (c) Only a governmental agency, in cooperation with a law
enforcement agency, may operate an automated  traffic 
enforcement system.  As used in this subdivision, "operate"
includes   A governmental agency that operates an
automated traffic enforcement system shall do  all of the
following  activities  :
   (1)  Developing   Develop  uniform
guidelines for screening and issuing violations and for the
processing and storage of confidential information, and 
establishing   establish  procedures to ensure
compliance with those guidelines.  For systems installed as of
January 1, 2013, a governmental agency that operates an automated
traffic enforcement system shall establish those guidelines by
January 1, 2014. 
   (2)  Performing   Perform   
administrative functions and day-to-day functions, including, but not
limited to, all of the following:
   (A) Establishing guidelines for  the  selection of  a
 location.  Prior to installing an automated traffic
enforcement system after Ja   nuary 1, 2013, the
governmental agency shall make and adopt a finding of fact
establishing that the system is needed at a specific location for
reasons related to safety. 
   (B) Ensuring that the equipment is regularly inspected.
   (C) Certifying that the equipment is properly installed and
calibrated, and is operating properly.
   (D) Regularly inspecting and maintaining warning signs placed
under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
   (E) Overseeing the establishment or change of signal phases and
the timing thereof.
   (F) Maintaining controls necessary to  assure 
 ensure  that only those citations that have been reviewed
and approved by law enforcement are delivered to violators.
   (d) The activities listed in subdivision (c) that relate to the
operation of the system may be contracted out by the governmental
agency, if it maintains overall control and supervision of the
system. However, the activities listed in paragraph (1) of, and
subparagraphs (A), (D), (E), and (F) of paragraph (2) of, subdivision
(c)  may  shall  not be contracted out to
the manufacturer or supplier of the automated traffic 
enforcement system.
   (e) (1) Notwithstanding Section 6253 of the Government Code, or
any other  provision of  law, photographic records
made by an automated  traffic  enforcement system shall be
confidential, and shall be made available only to governmental
agencies and law enforcement agencies and only for the purposes of
this article.
   (2) Confidential information obtained from the Department of Motor
Vehicles for the administration or enforcement of this article shall
be held confidential, and  may   shall 
not be used for any other purpose.
   (3) Except for court records described in Section 68152 of the
Government Code, the confidential records and information described
in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be retained for up to six months from
the date the information was first obtained, or until final
disposition of the citation, whichever date is later, after which
time the information shall be destroyed in a manner that will
preserve the confidentiality of any person included in the record or
information.
   (f) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), the registered owner or any
individual identified by the registered owner as the driver of the
vehicle at the time of the alleged violation shall be permitted to
review the photographic evidence of the alleged violation.
   (g) (1) A contract between a governmental agency and a
manufacturer or supplier of automated  traffic  enforcement
equipment  may   shall  not include
provision for the payment or compensation to the manufacturer or
supplier based on the number of citations generated, or as a
percentage of the revenue generated, as a result of the use of the
equipment authorized under this section.
   (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a contract that was entered
into by a governmental agency and a manufacturer or supplier of
automated  traffic  enforcement equipment before January 1,
2004, unless that contract is renewed, extended, or amended on or
after January 1, 2004. 
   (3) A governmental agency that proposes to install or operate an
automated traffic enforcement system shall not consider revenue
generation, beyond recovering its actual costs of operating the
system, as a factor when considering whether or not to install or
operate a system within its local jurisdiction.  
   (h) A manufacturer or supplier that operates an automated traffic
enforcement system pursuant to this section shall, in cooperation
with the governmental agency, submit an annual report to the Judicial
Council that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following
information if this information is in the possession of, or readily
available to, the manufacturer or supplier:  
   (1) The number of alleged violations captured by the systems they
operate.  
   (2) The number of citations issued by a law enforcement agency
based on information collected from the automated traffic enforcement
system.  
   (3) For citations identified in paragraph (2), the number of
violations that involved traveling straight through the intersection,
turning right, and turning left.  
   (4) The number and percentage of citations that are dismissed by
the court.  
   (5) The number of traffic collisions at each intersection that
occurred prior to, and after the installation of, the automated
traffic enforcement system. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 40518 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   40518.  (a) Whenever a written notice to appear has been issued by
a peace officer or by a qualified employee of a law enforcement
agency on a form approved by the Judicial Council for an alleged
violation of Section 22451, or, based on an alleged violation of
Section 21453, 21455, or 22101 recorded by an automated  traffic
 enforcement system pursuant to Section 21455.5 or 22451, and
delivered by mail within 15 days of the alleged violation to the
current address of the registered owner of the vehicle on file with
the department, with a certificate of mailing obtained as evidence of
service, an exact and legible duplicate copy of the notice when
filed with the magistrate shall constitute a complaint to which the
defendant may enter a plea. Preparation and delivery of a notice to
appear pursuant to this section is not an arrest.
   (b)  (1)    A notice to appear shall contain the
name and address of the person, the license plate number of the
person's vehicle, the violation charged, including a description of
the offense, and the time and place when, and where, the person may
appear in court or before a person authorized to receive a deposit of
bail. The time specified shall be at least 10 days after the notice
to appear is delivered.  If, after the notice to appear has been
issued, the citing peace officer or qualified   employee of
a law enforcement agency determines that, in the interest of justice,
the citation or notice should be dismissed, the citing agency may
recommend, in writing, to the magistrate or the judge that the case
be dismissed. The recommendation shall cite the reasons for the
recommendation and be filed with the court. If the magistrate or
judge makes a finding that there are grounds for dismissal, the
finding shall be entered on the record and the infraction dismissed.
 
   (2) A notice to appear shall also contain all of the following
information:  
   (A) The methods by which the registered owner of the vehicle or
the alleged violator may view and discuss with the issuing agency,
both by telephone and in person, the evidence used to substantiate
the violation.  
   (B) The contact information of the issuing agency.  
   (C) If applicable, information provided by the manufacturer or
supplier of the automated traffic enforcement system or the
governmental agency with which it contracts that clearly and
conspicuously identifies the manufacturer or supplier of the system.
 
   (c) This section and Section 40520 do not preclude the issuing
agency or the manufacturer or supplier of the automated traffic
enforcement system from mailing a courtesy notice or any other notice
other than a notice to appear to the registered owner of the vehicle
or the alleged violator prior to issuing a notice to appear. The
courtesy notice or other notice other than a notice to appear shall
be, beginning January 1, 2014, on a form approved by the Judicial
Council, following consultation with the traffic and transportation
committee of the California Peace Officers' Association, and shall
contain all of the following information:  
   (1) The methods by which the registered owner of the vehicle or
the alleged violator may view and discuss with the issuing agency,
both by telephone and in person, the evidence used to substantiate
the violation.  
   (2) The contact information of the issuing agency.  
   (3) Information provided by the manufacturer or supplier of an
automated traffic enforcement system or the governmental agency with
which it contracts that clearly and conspicuously identifies the
manufacturer or supplier of the system.  
   (d) A manufacturer or supplier of an automated traffic enforcement
system or the governmental agency operating the system shall not
alter the notice to appear or any other form approved by the Judicial
Council. If a form is found to have been materially altered, the
citation based on the altered form may be dismissed. 
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.