Apparently there has been an email floating around with statements about CA driving law changes. Well, most of them have ended up being fiction. Here is the truth:
- Carpool lane - 1st time $1068.50
starting 7/1/07 (The $271 posted on the highway is old). Don’t do it
again because 2nd time is going to be double. 3rd time triple, and 4th
time license suspended-Fiction!In 2007, the recommended fine for a first time car pool violation was
$380. Repeat offenders can expect to pay more, but nothing near
the amounts represented in this email. - Incorrect lane change -
$380. Don’t cross the lane on solid lines or intersections-Fiction!
The Uniform Bail and Penalty
Schedule said $134 for a typical infraction. - Block intersection - $485-Fiction!
The Uniform Bail and Penalty
Schedule said $175. - Driving on the shoulder - $450-Fiction!
The Uniform Bail and Penalty
Schedule said $134. - Cell phone use in the construction zone. - Double fine as of
07/01/07. Cell phone use must be “hands free” while
driving-Fiction!There was no law in California
during 2007 restricting the use of cell phones in the car. There was such
a law going into effect in July, 2008. There was no
“double fine” as of 7/1/07 because there was no law in effect
regarding cell phones. The new California law does not mention
construction zones although penalties for traffic violations are higher
if they occurred in a highway construction or maintenance area. - Passengers over 18 not in their seatbelts -
both passengers and drivers get tickets-Truth!The California Mandatory Seat Belt Law
requires all passengers to use some kind of restraint. Children under 6
and weighing less than 60 pounds are required to be in “specified
child passenger restraint system,” typically a car seat. Everybody
older than 6 must wear seat belts. At this writing the fines range
from less than $100 for a first offence to more than $300 when it’s kids
who are not buckled in. According to the California Highway Patrol
any adults in a vehicle who are not wearing seatbelts are subject to
citation, not just the driver. The driver will be held accountable
for any children not restrained. - Speeders
can only drive 3 miles above the limit-Fiction!The speed limit is the speed
limit. There is no legal definition allowing a driver to go 3
miles per hour above that. - DUI = JAIL (Stays on your
driving record for 10 years!)-Truth!At the time of this writing a
first offense for driving under the influence in California results in
anywhere between 96 hours and 4 months in jail. a fine, and a six-month
suspension of the license. Those are the court penalties.
There are separate penalties to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
As of January 1, 2007 a driving under the influence conviction will be
on a person’s record for 10 years. - As of 07/01/07 cell phone use
must be “hands free” while driving. Ticket is $285. They
will be looking for this like crazy - easy money for police department-Fiction!By law all drivers in California must be using hands-free cell
phones as of July 1, 2008. The fine was $20 for the first offense
and $50 for each subsequent offense. The exceptions are for
emergency use, drivers of emergency vehicles, and drivers of commercial
vehicles can use the push-to-talk type wireless phones until July 1,
2011.
