BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                   SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE             BILL NO.:........AB 2018
Senator Quentin L. Kopp, Chairman           AUTHOR:.............KATZ
                                            VERSION:
                                              (Orig.):
                                              (As Amend.):..04/12/93
                                            FISCAL:..............YES


SUBJECT:  

Driver's licenses:  recreational trailers.

DESCRIPTION:  

This bill would delete the January 1, 1994 sunset date on 
šprovisions authorizing drivers with special Class C licenses to 
štow recreational trailers up to 15,000 pounds gross weight.

ANALYSIS:  

Existing law generally requires drivers pulling trailers with a 
šgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds to 
šobtain a Class A driver's license.  The law, however, makes an 
šexception for Class C (passenger vehicle) licensees through 
šJanuary 1, 1994, for towing certain noncommercial ("fifth wheel") 
šrecreational trailers up to 15,000 pounds gross weight.

This bill would:

1.  Repeal the January 1, 1994, sunset date and extend 
šindefinitely the provisions authorizing drivers with only a 
šregular Class C license to pull fifth-wheel travel trailers with 
ša GVWR of between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds, provided that a 
šspecial exam is passed and a license endorsement is issued by the 
šDepartment of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as under existing law.

2.  Repeal the January 1, 1994, sunset date and extend 
šindefinitely the provisions authorizing drivers with a restricted 
šClass A license to pull fifth-wheel travel trailers with a GVWR 
šin excess of 15,000 pounds, or travel trailers in excess of 
š10,000 pounds, subject to existing requirements consisting of a 
šspecial exam and medical record reporting.

COMMENTS:  

1.  This bill extends indefinitely two driver licensing 
šprovisions originally enacted on a trial basis by AB 4261 
š(Hansen, Chapter 1358, Statutes of 1990), applicable to drivers 
šwho tow travel trailers and trailer coaches in excess of 10,000 
špounds GVWR.  These provisions are scheduled to sunset on January 
š1, 1994.

2.  A required California Highway Patrol (CHP) study in response 
što AB 4261 on the subject of fifth-wheel travel trailers dated 
šJanuary 1993 determined "there has been no negative impact on 
šhighway safety" and that "there is no demonstrated need to 
šrequire additional training or testing for 
these! drivers". 
šDrivers desiring to tow these heavier trailers must take special 



DMV exams that are less stringent than the regular Class A 
šcommercial exams otherwise applicable to these heavier trailers. 
šThe DMV reports that very few of these licenses (Class C special 
štest or restricted Class A) have been issued, approximately 500 
šper year.

3.  According to the author, the profile of these RV drivers is 
špositive:  they tend to be older drivers, not in a hurry, who 
štend to own their trailer equipment, and therefore have an 
šincentive to handle the equipment safely.  The number of miles 
šdriven each year is not extensive, and their exposure is 
štherefore less.

Assembly Votes:
  Floor:    78-0                                                  
  W&M:      21-0
  Trans:    16-0


POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on 
            Wednesday, June 23, 1993.)

    SUPPORT: Good Sam Club


    OPPOSED:
























                                                              06/23/93