BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2247
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 2, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                  AB 2247 (Lowenthal) - As Amended:  April 18, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              Public 
          SafetyVote:  6-0
                        Transporation                           14-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill revises the statute that makes a violation of 
          unauthorized sales or peddling on or in a public transit 
          facility or vehicle an infraction punishable by a fine not to 
          exceed $250 and by community service not to exceed 48 hours, to 
          allow the option of handling administratively as a civil matter. 
           

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible. 

           COMMENTS  

           Rationale  . Under current law, public transit infractions are 
          generally enforced by giving a violator a citation with a court 
          date, which the violator signs promising to appear. The court 
          sends a notice to the alleged violator reminding him or her of 
          the court date, listing the bail amount, and stating that he/she 
          must appear unless the bail is paid.

          Existing law, however, also allows specified transit authorities 
          to establish an alternative civil infraction process for 
          specified transit violations that occur within their systems. 
          Handling these infractions administratively expedites the 
          penalty process, reduces court time and expense, and avoids 
          hundreds of dollar in assessments that an offender may be unable 
          to pay, which can lead to a reduced base fine. For example, a 
          $75 fine with assessments can exceed $400. A $250 fine with 
          assessments can exceed $1,000.  








                                                                  AB 2247
                                                                  Page  2


          This bill authorizes the use of the administrative procedure for 
          unauthorized peddling on or in specified public transit 
          property.  

           

          Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081