BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 604|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 604
Author: Anderson (R)
Amended: 5/15/13
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 8-0, 4/16/13
AYES: DeSaulnier, Gaines, Beall, Cannella, Galgiani, Hueso,
Roth, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Lara, Liu, Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Vending in intersections
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill authorizes a city or county to enact an
ordinance to prohibit a person from soliciting, displaying,
selling, offering for sale, or otherwise vending or attempting
to vend any merchandise or service while being wholly or partly
within any center median that is within 300 feet of an
intersection controlled by a traffic control signal, except as
specified.
ANALYSIS : Existing law makes it illegal for a person to vend
any merchandise or service in the right-of-way of any freeway,
ramp, or shoulder which lies within the right-of-way of the
freeway; within any roadway or shoulder within 500 feet of a
freeway ramp; and, on any sidewalk within 500 feet of a freeway
ramp when vending or attempting to vend to vehicular traffic. A
CONTINUED
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first violation is an infraction. A second or subsequent
violation is a misdemeanor.
Existing law also allows law enforcement personnel,
firefighters, or other persons employed to protect the public
safety to solicit charitable contributions in the roadway from
passing motorists if the city or county has approved an
application from the charity.
This bill:
1.Authorizes a city or county to enact an ordinance to prohibit
a person from soliciting, displaying, selling, offering for
sale, or otherwise vending or attempting to vend any
merchandise or service while being wholly or partly within any
center median that is within 300 feet of an intersection
controlled by a traffic control signal.
2.Exempts from the provisions of the bill charitable
solicitations collected by local public safety employees who
are soliciting solely in the area of the local agency, and the
charity files an application with the local jurisdiction.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/20/13)
Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs
Bell Gardens Police Department
Brawley Police Department
Buena Park Police Department
California Fraternal Order of Police
California Police Chiefs Association
California Police Chiefs Association
Cathedral City Police Department
Chino Police Department
City of Gilroy
City of La Mesa
City of Wildomar
Concord Police Department
Desert Hot Springs
El Monte Police Department
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Elk Grove Police Department
Farmersville Police Department
Fountain Valley Police Department
Gilroy Police Department
Glendale Police Department
Hayward Police Department
Livermore Police Department
Long Beach Police Officers Association
Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association
Los Angeles Police Protective League
Los Gatos Police Department
Mill Valley Police Department
Modesto Police Department
Monterey Police Department
Mountain View Police Department
Pacific Grove Police Department
Palm Springs Police Department
Pismo Beach Police Department
Placerville Police Department
Riverside Sheriffs Association
Rocklin Police Department
Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association
San Diego County Chiefs and Sheriffs Association
Santa Ana Police Officers Association
Sausalito Police Department
Seaside Police Department
Signal Hill Police Department
Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association
South Gate Police Department
Stockton Police Department
Stockton Police Department
Watsonville Police Department
Westminster Police Department
Woodland Police Department
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author:
Vending to vehicular traffic is inherently dangerous, but
equally dangerous is crossing vehicular traffic lanes back
and forth to access the center median.
In 2010, the most recent year the California Highway patrol
has data available; there were 363 fatal accidents where
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pedestrian violation was the main factor for the incident.
Additionally, there were 384 fatal incidents at
intersections that were controlled by a traffic control
signal.
These statistics prove that the roadway is a dangerous
place for pedestrians and that intersections even when a
traffic control device is present are inherently dangerous.
This bill is an attempt to make these areas safer for both
vehicular traffic and pedestrians.
SB 604 will not only protect drivers from distractions it
will also protect those who are vending to traffic. SB 604
would prohibit a person from soliciting, displaying,
selling, or otherwise vending while being within an
intersection controlled by a traffic control signal. This
will lead to fewer pedestrian vs. vehicle accidents caused
by distracted drivers as they travel through busy
intersections.
JA:ej 5/21/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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