BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 1388
                                                                  Page  1

           Date of Hearing:   June 11, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
                               Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
                  SB 1388 (DeSaulnier) - As Amended:  June 13, 2012

           SENATE VOTE  :  36-0
           

          SUBJECT  :  Parking meters

           SUMMARY  :  Generally authorizes vehicles to park without penalty 
          for up to the posted time limit at inoperable parking meters or 
          inoperable parking payment centers, as defined, but authorizes a 
          local authority, by ordinance, to prohibit or restrict such 
          parking so long as signs or markings giving adequate notice of 
          the rule are in place.  Also authorizes, but does not require, 
          local authorities to accept parking meter payment by mobile 
          devices and explicitly allows local authorities to fix variable 
          parking rates, by ordinance.  

           EXISTING LAW:   

          1)Allows local authorities to establish parking meter zones and 
            to fix the parking fee for such zones but only by ordinance.  

          2)Does not specify whether or not a local authority may cite a 
            vehicle owner for parking at a non-functioning meter or 
            payment center.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown

           COMMENTS  :   Current state law does not specify what a motorist 
          should do when he or she encounters a broken parking meter.  
          Rules change from city to city, and cities do not always post 
          their rules.  In some cases, motorists who assume that they may 
          park without penalty receive tickets.  

          The author asserts that motorists would benefit from a uniform 
          rule regarding inoperable parking meters or payment centers.  

          Writing in support of this bill, the Auto Clubs of California 
          maintain that the bill is a "simple issue of fairness and 
          notice."  They also point out that, if a local authority does 
          not want to make parking available when a meter is broken, the 








                                                                  SB 1388
                                                                  Page  2

          bill allows it to do so as long as it provides reasonable notice 
          to motorists.  
           
          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :  

           Support 
           
          Automobile Club of Northern California, Nevada and Utah 
          (co-sponsor)
          Automobile Club of Southern California (co-sponsor)
          Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety
          National Federal of Independent Business 
           
            Opposition 
           
          None on file


           Analysis Prepared by  :  Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093