Bill Text

Bill Information


PDF |Add To My Favorites | print page

AB-756 Prima facie speed limits: Golden Gate Park.(2017-2018)

SHARE THIS:share this bill in Facebookshare this bill in Twitter
Date Published: 01/03/2018 02:00 PM
AB756:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  January 03, 2018
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 22, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 756

Introduced by Assembly Member Ting

February 15, 2017

An act to add Section 22352.5 22357.2 to the Vehicle Code, relating to speed limits.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 756, as amended, Ting. Prima facie speed limits: Golden Gate Park.
Existing law establishes prima facie speed limits, including 15 miles per hour and 25 miles per hour, for various circumstances relating to traversing a railway grade crossing, approaching or passing a school building, and passing a senior center, among others. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. authorizes a local authority to enact various speed laws, including setting by ordinance or resolution, a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour on any street, other than a state highway, adjacent to any children’s playground in a public park, under specified circumstances.
This bill would establish a authorize the City and County of San Francisco to reduce the prima facie speed limit of to 15 miles per hour when driving on a street or road, with specified exclusions, road within Golden Gate Park in the City of San Francisco, with specified exclusions, and report to the Department of Transportation regarding any traffic calming measures undertaken to maintain or increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety, as prescribed. Because the bill would create a new crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for Golden Gate Park in the City of San Francisco.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

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

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a) San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is the third most-visited park in the country, attracting 13 million visitors each year. Unfortunately, due to the park’s popularity, pedestrians and bicyclists are at significant risk of traffic injury or death. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency found that between 2011 and 2016, 157 people were injured and three people were killed on Golden Gate Park roads.
(b) In May 2017, the Department of Transportation released its report, “Toward an Active California State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan,” which recommends that the department work with local partners to evaluate the potential safety benefits of setting speed limits on local roads.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Section 22352.5 22357.2 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

22352.5.22357.2.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the City and County of San Francisco may, by ordinance or resolution, reduce the prima facie speed limit when driving on a street or road within Golden Gate Park in the City of San Francisco, excluding Crossover Drive, Park Presidio Bypass Boulevard, and Kezar Drive, shall be to 15 miles per hour, in order and report to the Department of Transportation regarding any traffic calming measures undertaken to maintain or increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The
(b) The prima facie speed limit shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice of that speed limit are erected along the street or road.

SEC. 2.SEC. 3.

 The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances in Golden Gate Park in the City of San Francisco with respect to traffic safety.
SEC. 3.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.