BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 28
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
28 (Chu) - As Amended April 22, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill authorizes bicycles to have a solid red or flashing
red light on the rear in place of the currently-required red
reflector.
AB 28
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Negligible fiscal impact.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Under current law, bicycles are required to be
equipped with a front light and a variety of reflectors,
including a red one on the rear of the bike that is visible
from a distance of 500 feet when directly in front of a
vehicle's headlights. The federal Consumer Products Safety
Commission requires that all bicycles sold in the United
States be equipped with this rear reflector, which must meet
standards set by the commission.
2)Purpose. This bill authorizes a bicycle to be equipped with a
solid red light or a flashing red light in place of the red
reflector. If a bicyclist wishes to remove the red reflector
that his or her bicycle comes with and replace it with a rear
light, arguably the bicyclist is no longer in compliance with
the law even though there is no sacrifice in terms of
visibility, which is the purpose of the reflector requirement.
The author wants to encourage bicyclists to be as visible as
possible at night and believes lights are a part of the
solution. This simple change to the law ensures that rear
lights are authorized should a bicyclist choose to use them.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 28
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