Steve Eller Creative - Worship, Web Design - San Diego, CA

Truth Or Fiction

Posted on the June 29th, 2007 under misc by Steve Eller

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Block intersection - $485-Fiction!
   The Uniform Bail and Penalty
   Schedule said $175.
4. Driving on the shoulder - $450-Fiction!
   The Uniform Bail and Penalty
   Schedule said $134.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.