BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 404
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB
404 (De León)
As Introduced February 25, 2015
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE: 36-0
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Transportation |16-0 |Frazier, Achadjian, | |
| | |Baker, Bloom, Campos, | |
| | |Chu, Daly, Dodd, | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Gomez, Kim, Linder, | |
| | |Medina, Melendez, | |
| | |Nazarian, O'Donnell | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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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:
SB 404
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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.
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: None
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
SB 404
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with existing law.
To address this problem, the author has introduced this bill
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.
This bill is a cost saving measure that allows for the use of
modern "painting" technologies meanwhile saving taxpayers money.
Analysis Prepared by:
Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN:
0001128