BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 404 Page 1 Date of Hearing: June 29, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION Jim Frazier, Chair SB 404 (De León) - As Introduced February 25, 2015 SENATE VOTE: 36-0 SUBJECT: Vehicles: traffic officers SUMMARY: Deletes references to how color is applied to California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicles thereby allowing for the use of alternative technologies such as vinyl wrapping. Specifically, this bill: 1)Deletes the requirement that vehicles used to respond to accidents or enforce rules of the road be "painted." 2)Makes related, clarifying changes. EXISTING LAW: 1)Requires the CHP officers, when responding to a traffic incidents or enforcing rules of the road to wear a distinctive uniform. SB 404 Page 2 2)Requires CHP vehicles used to respond to a traffic incidents or while enforcing rules of the road be painted a distinctive color specified by the commissioner. FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown COMMENTS: Relatively new technology on the market allows vehicles to be wrapped in large sheets of vinyl as an alternative to painting them with traditional polyurethane paint. This technique is commonly used on busses and other large vehicles to display advertisements. In the case of law enforcement patrol cars, this technology is frequently used by automakers to provide a patrol car's distinctive color and mark. The author points out that because existing law specifically calls for patrol cars to "painted" the use of vinyl wrapping, in lieu of paint, is precluded. The author has cited cases where law enforcement agencies have had to reject vehicle wrapping offered by auto manufacturers and instead incur the extra cost of using traditional "painting" methods to remain in compliance with existing law. To address this problem, the author has introduced SB 404 which would delete the specific reference to "painting" patrol cars, leaving the requirement for patrol cars to be bear distinctive colors and marking. This minor change will allow the use of less costly, alternative methods to apply the distinctive colors and marking to law enforcement vehicles. SB 404 is a cost SB 404 Page 3 saving measure that allows for the use of modern "painting" technologies meanwhile saving taxpayers money. REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION: Support California Police Chiefs Association California State Sheriffs' Association Opposition None on file Analysis Prepared by:Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 SB 404 Page 4