BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
Senator Jim Beall, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 1725 Hearing Date: 6/14/2016
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|Author: |Wagner |
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|Version: |3/7/2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |No |
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|Consultant|Randy Chinn |
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SUBJECT: Vehicles: automated traffic enforcement systems
DIGEST: This bill reduces the base fine for running a red light
at a freeway onramp meter from $100 to $35.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Makes it unlawful to enter a lane over which a red signal is
shown. The base fine for violations of this provision is $100
(VC Section 42001.15).
2)Makes it generally unlawful for any driver to fail to obey any
sign, signal, or other traffic control device. Violations
carry a base fine of $35.
This bill:
Specifies that violations for disobeying red lights at freeway
on-ramps are subject to the $35 base fine rather than the $100
base fine.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, violations at freeway
on-ramp meters are being enforced with the same fines as
violations for running a red light at an intersection. This
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is inappropriate because the signals serve vastly different
purposes and have vastly different degrees of danger.
Therefore, it is appropriate for freeway on-ramp meter
violations to be subject to lesser fines.
2)Turning $541 into $289. Because of numerous penalties,
surcharges and fees, the actual cost of a ticket is far larger
than the base fine. By reducing the base fine from $100 to
$35, the cost of the ticket is reduced from $541 to $289.
3)Make the punishment fit the crime. Earlier this year, this
committee approved SB 986 (Hill), which lowered the penalty
for running a red light when making a right turn.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 74-0
Trans: 16-0
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local:
No
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 8, 2016.)
SUPPORT:
Automobile Club of Southern California
Conference of California Bar Associations
Safer Streets L.A.
OPPOSITION:
None received
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