You might have not known the California State Legislature approved a number of new laws of interest to all motorists during 2011, that may affect you and your family members who are on the road everyday.
And these measures take effect January 1, 2012. Here are the new laws for road travelers.
Vehicle License Fee
On July 1, 2011, the Vehicle License Fee was reduced a vehicles’ assessed value from 1.15% to 0.65%. In 2009 the Vehicle License Fee had been temporarily raised to help back fill the stat’s chronic budget deficit; the 0.5% increase generated approximately $1.7 billion each year for California. An extension of the Vehicle License Fee was not included in the stat’s 2011 to 2012 fiscal year budget.
Registration Fees
senate Bill 89 increased the registration fee for vehicles from $31 to $43 per year, effective July 1. This increase will bring approximately $360 million per year for California, that used for fund DMV operations. A number of additional state and local registration fees assessed bring the overall fee total to about $100. These are added to the Vehicle License Fee charges which is assessed as a percentage of a vehicle’s value.
Booster Seats
SB 949 strengthens California’s child passenger restraint law by requiring children under the age of 8, unless at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, to be properly restrained in a booster seat in a vehicle’s backseat. Previously, children up to age 6 or weighing less than 60 pounds were required to use booster seats.
Vehicle Purchases
Beginning July 1, assembly Bill 1215 requires that when new-car dealers sell a vehicle, they register it electronically with the DMV. The measure also allows dealers to charge up to $80 for electronic document processing and up to $65 for manual processing. AB 1215 also requires used-car dealers to make a vehicle history report from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information Service available to buyers prior to sale and prohibits the dealer from offering a used vehicle for sale unless the dealer first obtains the report. This requirement does not apply to the sale of motorcycles, off-road vehicles, or recreational vehicles.
Drunk Driving
Tow measures signed into law alter DUI (driving under the influence) penalties in noteworthy ways. AB 353 prohibits law enforcement from impounding a vehicle at a sobriety checkpoint f the driver’s only offense is not having a valid driver’s license. Police must also make a reasonable attempt to identify the registered owner of the vehicle in order to release the vehicle to the registered owner or to a licensed driver authorized by the registered owner. AB 520 allows a person convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving to apply for a restricted licensed early if this person complies with specified requirements, including the installation of an ignition-interlock device.
New Rules For Air Travelers
If you have encountered troubles with getting stuck aboard aircraft parked on the tarmac for hours or bumped from an overbooked flight without alternative flight out, here is the good news:
US Department of Transportation new rules ensure passenger can expect to be treated better, starting January 24, 2012.
Delay Notification
Airlines must notify your of delays of more than 30 minutes.
Reservation And Cancellation
you will be able to hold a reservation without paying for up to 24 hours of cancel it without penalty if the booking is made at least 1 week prior to your departure. Once you purchase our ticket, an airline cannot hike the price.
Other rules have begun since the past fall:
Delay For Destination
if you get bumped involuntarily from an overbooked flight, causing you to be 1-2 hours late in getting to your domestic destination, you will get double the value of our ticket, up to $650; for more than 2 hours, you will get 4 times the ticket value, up to $1300.
International flight cannot hold passengers on the tarmac for more than 4 hours, and domestic flights for more than 3 hours, without allowing passengers to deplane.
Adequate food and water, lavatories, and medical care must be provided if you are stuck for 2 hours on the tarmac. If airlines exceed those limits, they may get hit with stiff fines.
Disclosure Of Fees
Airlines must disclose their websites optional fees for baggage, meals, changing or canceling reservations, or advance or upgraded seating.
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