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SB-218 Vehicles: local authorities.(2015-2016)

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SB218:v96#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  May 06, 2015
Amended  IN  Senate  April 06, 2015
Amended  IN  Senate  March 26, 2015

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2015–2016 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 218


Introduced by Senator Huff

February 12, 2015


An act to amend Sections 21, 385, and 21455.5 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 218, as amended, Huff. Vehicles: local authorities.
Existing law declares the Vehicle Code to be applicable and uniform throughout the state and in all counties and municipalities within the state, and prohibits a local authority, as defined, from enacting or enforcing an ordinance on matters covered by the Vehicle Code, unless expressly authorized by that code. Under existing law, this statement does not impair the authority of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) to enforce an ordinance or resolution relating to the management of public lands within its jurisdiction.
This bill would clarify that the MRCA may only enforce an ordinance or resolution relating to the management of public lands within its jurisdiction consistent with the prohibition described above. The bill would also expand the definition of a local authority to include the MRCA. a joint powers authority and a park district.
Existing law authorizes a local governmental agency to equip a limit line, intersection, or other place where a driver is required to stop with an automated enforcement system, as defined, if the system meets certain requirements.
This bill would prohibit a governmental agency or local authority from utilizing an automated traffic enforcement system at any place where traffic is regulated by a stop sign. from being utilized by any jurisdiction at any place where traffic is regulated by a stop sign.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the MRCA.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 21 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

21.
 (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this code are applicable and uniform throughout the state and in all counties and municipalities therein, and a local authority shall not enact or enforce any ordinance or resolution on the matters covered by this code, including ordinances or resolutions that establish regulations or procedures for, or assess a fine, penalty, assessment, or fee for a violation of, matters covered by this code, unless expressly authorized by this code.
(b) To the extent permitted by current state law, this section does not impair the current lawful authority of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, a joint powers authority, or any member agency constituted therein as of July 1, 2010, to enforce an ordinance or resolution relating to the management of public lands within its jurisdiction, consistent with the prohibition described in subdivision (a).

SEC. 2.

 Section 385 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

385.
 “Local authorities” means the legislative body of every county or municipality having authority to adopt local police regulations, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. a joint powers authority, and a park district.

SEC. 3.

 Section 21455.5 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

21455.5.
 (a) The limit line, the intersection, or a place designated in Section 21455, where a driver is required to stop, may be equipped with an automated traffic enforcement system if the governmental agency utilizing the system meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Identifies the system by signs posted within 200 feet of an intersection where a system is operating that clearly indicate the system’s presence and are visible to traffic approaching from all directions in which the automated traffic enforcement system is being utilized to issue citations. A governmental agency utilizing such a system does not need to post signs visible to traffic approaching the intersection from directions not subject to the automated traffic enforcement system. Automated traffic enforcement systems installed as of January 1, 2013, shall be identified no later than January 1, 2014.
(2) Locates the system at an intersection and ensures that the system meets the criteria specified in Section 21455.7.
(b) Prior to issuing citations under this section, a local jurisdiction utilizing an automated traffic enforcement system shall commence a program to issue only warning notices for 30 days. The local jurisdiction shall also make a public announcement of the automated traffic enforcement system at least 30 days prior to the commencement of the enforcement program.
(c) Only a governmental agency, in cooperation with a law enforcement agency, may operate an automated traffic enforcement system. A governmental agency that operates an automated traffic enforcement system shall do all of the following:
(1) Develop uniform guidelines for screening and issuing violations and for the processing and storage of confidential information, and establish procedures to ensure compliance with those guidelines. For systems installed as of January 1, 2013, a governmental agency that operates an automated traffic enforcement system shall establish those guidelines by January 1, 2014.
(2) Perform administrative functions and day-to-day functions, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Establishing guidelines for the selection of a location. Prior to installing an automated traffic enforcement system after January 1, 2013, the governmental agency shall make and adopt a finding of fact establishing that the system is needed at a specific location for reasons related to safety.
(B) Ensuring that the equipment is regularly inspected.
(C) Certifying that the equipment is properly installed and calibrated, and is operating properly.
(D) Regularly inspecting and maintaining warning signs placed under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(E) Overseeing the establishment or change of signal phases and the timing thereof.
(F) Maintaining controls necessary to ensure that only those citations that have been reviewed and approved by law enforcement are delivered to violators.
(d) The activities listed in subdivision (c) that relate to the operation of the system may be contracted out by the governmental agency, if it maintains overall control and supervision of the system. However, the activities listed in paragraph (1) of, and subparagraphs (A), (D), (E), and (F) of paragraph (2) of, subdivision (c) shall not be contracted out to the manufacturer or supplier of the automated traffic enforcement system.
(e) The printed representation of computer-generated information, video, or photographic images stored by an automated traffic enforcement system does not constitute an out-of-court hearsay statement by a declarant under Division 10 (commencing with Section 1200) of the Evidence Code.
(f) (1) Notwithstanding Section 6253 of the Government Code, or any other law, photographic records made by an automated traffic enforcement system shall be confidential, and shall be made available only to governmental agencies and law enforcement agencies and only for the purposes of this article.
(2) Confidential information obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles for the administration or enforcement of this article shall be held confidential, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(3) Except for court records described in Section 68152 of the Government Code, the confidential records and information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be retained for up to six months from the date the information was first obtained, or until final disposition of the citation, whichever date is later, after which time the information shall be destroyed in a manner that will preserve the confidentiality of any person included in the record or information.
(g) Notwithstanding subdivision (f), the registered owner or any individual identified by the registered owner as the driver of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation shall be permitted to review the photographic evidence of the alleged violation.
(h) (1) A contract between a governmental agency and a manufacturer or supplier of automated traffic enforcement equipment shall not include provision for the payment or compensation to the manufacturer or supplier based on the number of citations generated, or as a percentage of the revenue generated, as a result of the use of the equipment authorized under this section.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a contract that was entered into by a governmental agency and a manufacturer or supplier of automated traffic enforcement equipment before January 1, 2004, unless that contract is renewed, extended, or amended on or after January 1, 2004.
(3) A governmental agency that proposes to install or operate an automated traffic enforcement system shall not consider revenue generation, beyond recovering its actual costs of operating the system, as a factor when considering whether or not to install or operate a system within its local jurisdiction.
(i) A manufacturer or supplier that operates an automated traffic enforcement system pursuant to this section shall, in cooperation with the governmental agency, submit an annual report to the Judicial Council that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following information if this information is in the possession of, or readily available to, the manufacturer or supplier:
(1) The number of alleged violations captured by the systems they operate.
(2) The number of citations issued by a law enforcement agency based on information collected from the automated traffic enforcement system.
(3) For citations identified in paragraph (2), the number of violations that involved traveling straight through the intersection, turning right, and turning left.
(4) The number and percentage of citations that are dismissed by the court.
(5) The number of traffic collisions at each intersection that occurred prior to, and after the installation of, the automated traffic enforcement system.
(j) If a governmental agency utilizing an automated traffic enforcement system has posted signs on or before January 1, 2013, that met the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of this section, as it read on January 1, 2012, the governmental agency shall not remove those signs until signs are posted that meet the requirements specified in this section, as it reads on January 1, 2013.

(k)Notwithstanding any other law, a governmental agency or local authority shall not utilize an automated traffic enforcement system at any place where traffic is regulated by a stop sign.

(k) Notwithstanding any other law, an automated traffic enforcement system shall not be utilized by any jurisdiction at any place where traffic is regulated by a stop sign. This subdivision applies upon highways and elsewhere throughout the state.

SEC. 4.

The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances present within the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.