BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                     AB 2018


Date of Hearing:  April 12, 1993

                   ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
                           RICHARD KATZ, Chair


               AB 2018 (Katz) - As Amended:  April 12, 1993



SUBJECT

Recreational trailers - licensing

DIGEST

Existing law generally requires drivers pulling trailers with a gross 
švehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds to obtain a Class A 
šdriver's license, with limited exceptions applicable through January 1, 
š1994, for certain non-commercial recreational trailers. 

This bill:

1)  Repeals the January 1, 1994, sunset date and thereby extends 
š    indefinitely provisions authorizing drivers with only a regular Class C 
    license to pull fifth-wheel travel trailers with a GVWR of between 
    10,000 and 15,000 pounds, providing a special exam is passed and a 
    license endorsement is issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) 
    as under existing law.

2)  Also repeals the January 1, 1994, sunset date and also extends 
š    indefinitely provisions authorizing drivers with a restricted Class A 
    license to pull fifth-wheel travel trailers with a GVWR in excess of 
    15,000 pounds, or travel trailers in excess of 10,000 pounds, subject 
    to existing requirements consisting of a special exam and medical 
    record reporting. 

FISCAL EFFECT

None.

COMMENTS

1)  This bill extends two driver licensing provisions originally enacted on 
š    a trial basis by AB 4261 (Hansen - Chapter 1358, Statutes of 1990), 
    applicable to drivers who haul travel trailers and trailer coaches in 
    excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.  These provisions would otherwise sunset 
    on January 1, 1994. 

2)  A California Highway Patrol (CHP) study in response to AB 4261 on the 
š     subject of fifth-wheel travel trailers dated January 1993 determined 
    "there has been no negative impact on highway safety" and that "there 
    is no 


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demonstrated need to require additional training or testing for 
these! šdrivers".  Drivers wanting to haul these trailers must take special DMV 
šexams that are less stringent than the exams otherwise applicable to 
štrailers of these heavier weights.  DMV reports that very few of these 
šlicenses (Class C special test or restricted Class A) have been issued, 
šapproximately 500 per year. 

SUPPORT

Unknown

OPPOSITION

Unknown







































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