Law Lets Police Stop Motorists Who Aren’t Wearing Seat Belts

Saying that it will help reduce highway deaths and injuries, Gov. Pete Wilson has signed into law a bill to allow police officers to stop and cite motorists for failing to use automobile seat belts.

The new law (AB 338), sponsored by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), goes into effect Jan. 1. Failure to use a seat belt can result in a $20 fine for a first offense and $50 fine for subsequent offenses.

Current law requires law enforcement officers to cite motorists for seat belt violations only when they pull drivers over for other violations.

The California Highway Patrol estimates the new law will increase seat belt use by 10% and save at least 500 lives a year.

Of 19 people killed within CHP jurisdiction over the Fourth of July holiday weekend who were required to wear automobile seat belts, 15 of them neglected to buckle up, officials said.

GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (SB 34) by Sen. Leroy Greene (D-Carmichael) to place a $900-million K-12 school construction bond issue on the November general election ballot for voter consideration.

Signed into law a bill (AB 122) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to authorize the California Highway Patrol to shut down a highway when visibility limitations pose a significant driving hazard. The new law came in response to a multivehicle accident that occurred during a blinding dust storm last Thanksgiving on Interstate 5 that claimed 17 lives and injured 164 people.

Expanded the Legislature’s special session agenda to include damages caused by the recent San Bernardino and Riverside County earthquakes.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Bicycle Helmets: Rejected on a 42-28 vote a bill (SB 1878) by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) to allow local governments to enact ordinances requiring the use of bicycle safety helmets for people 16 years of age and younger. Reconsideration requested.

Los Angeles Riots: Passed and sent to the Senate on 71-0 and 55-18 votes a pair of bills (AB 39X and AB 38X) by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) to provide tax relief for people who suffered uninsured losses in the Los Angeles riots and replace property tax revenues lost by local governments because of the rioting that followed the verdicts in the Rodney G. King beating case.

Health Care: Passed and returned to the Senate for concurrence in Assembly amendments on a 41-31 vote a bill (SB 6) by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) to establish a state health plan commission to develop a health care coverage plan for all California residents.

Committee Action

Welfare Checks: The Human Services Committee approved a bill (SB 1506) by Sen. Newton Russell (R-Glendale) to save federal, state and county governments up to $9 million a year by paying welfare recipients once a month instead of twice a month. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Bill Introductions

Income Tax Hike: AB 59X by Assemblyman Tom Bates (D-Oakland) would impose a one-time 10% surtax on individuals with incomes of more than $500,000 and couples earning $1 million or more annually to help prevent a deep education funding cut in the state budget.

SENATE

Floor Action

ATMs: Passed and sent to the governor on a 26-1 vote a bill (AB 2389) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to require banks to notify automated teller machine users of any transaction surcharge before the completion of a withdrawal.

Drunk Driving: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in Senate amendments on a 31-0 vote a bill (AB 3365) by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) to make it illegal for an adult to allow a minor to drive an automobile if the adult suspects the youth is under the influence of alcohol.

Committee Action

Battered Women: The Appropriations Committee approved a bill (AB 2373) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) to create within the governor’s office a five-member commission to review the cases of battered women convicted of killing their spouses and recommend possible pardons or commutations. A 10-0 vote sent the bill to the Senate floor.

Sibling Visits: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (AB 3332) by Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) to ensure brothers and sisters are given the right to visit each other when they are separated as wards of the state or placed in foster homes. A 10-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Miscellany

Quayle Strikes Again: Doree O’Connell of Carpinteria received a nice letter from Vice President Dan Quayle the other day congratulating her on being accepted into the exclusive Republican Senatorial Inner Circle. This is a VIP group that makes hefty campaign contributions to GOP candidates such as President Bush and Sen. John Seymour (R-Calif.). Quayle invited Doree to attend the Republican National Convention Aug. 16-20 in Houston. Oops. Doree is a registered Democrat. Her husband is Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria), the Assembly Speaker pro tem. Doree O’Connell reports that the check’s not in the mail and she won’t be going to Houston.