California Black Media

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As the clock ticked down on 2009, and revelers the world over welcomed a new decade, the state of California rang in a whole new slate of laws. Those new laws-taking effect on January 1-cover everything from banning trans fat in restaurants and requiring third time DUI offenders to maintain an Ignition Interlock Device in their vehicles to the definition of the word “honey”.

Some of them are a given as in making it a misdemeanor to sell or give nitrous oxide - "laughing gas"-to a minor, others are long overdue, like a requirement for lead-free products in our plumbing that may hit many of us homeowners right in the pocketbook. There's more protection for victims of domestic violence and families looking to get more information on felony child abusers and in its designation of May 22 as Harvey Milk Day, requires schools to observe the birth date of the assassinated gay rights leader as a "day of special significance."

Here are some you would do well to remember:

SB 159:  "Move Over/Slow Down" requires drivers to slow and move out of the lane adjacent to emergency vehicles or tow trucks displaying emergency lights.

AB 628: Permits vehicular crossings and toll highways operating in California to use a pay-by-plate toll system where motorists are identified by their vehicle license plate and billed or the toll is deducted from an Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) account.

SB 527: Allows a person to ride a bicycle without a seat if the bicycle was designed by the manufacturer to be ridden without a seat.

AB1953: Prohibits the sale of faucets (fittings and also replacement parts) that contain more than _% of lead. Homeowners may notice that it will be virtually impossible to purchase replacement parts for their current faucets and likely will have to incur the expense of a complete faucet exchange.

SB 492: Hikes fines and jail time for registered gang members who hang around schools within 72 hours of having been warned to leave.

SB 200: Allows raffles for charities and other nonprofits to be advertised - but not conducted - via the Internet.

AB 1291: Increases requirements for banks and other institutions to inform customers about dormant accounts and other assets.

AB 532: Allows police to obtain a search warrant to seize guns or other deadly weapons from within a house after a report of domestic violence or mental health incident.

AB 14: Provides that a motor vehicle can be declared a public nuisance and impounded for up to 30 days when used in specified crimes related to prostitution.

AB 750: Gives courts the ability to offer a deferred entry of judgment "DEJ" instead of jail time for minor offenses.

SB 1187: Mandates that anyone convicted of felony child pornography charges will see his (or her) name, photograph, physical description, address, and criminal history on the California Megan's Law website.

AB 97: Makes it illegal for restaurants in California to cook with trans fats, though bakeries are exempt until 2011.
 

SB 340: Requires businesses to clearly state all automatic credit card renewal terms and obtain the customer's affirmative consent at the time of the agreement. The law will also require cancellation policies to accompany the offer and that businesses provide easy ways for the consumer to cancel.

AB 62: Allows a person to drive a motor vehicle with a television receiver, video monitor, television or video screen so long as the equipment is designed in a manner that prevents the driver of the car from viewing during operation of the vehicle.