BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     SB 404


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          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.









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          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  








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          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


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