The new year is here, and you may be wondering if there are new California traffic laws. 2024 does, indeed, feature new laws for California, such as a minimum wage increase and a law letting the California Energy Commission prevent gasoline price gouging.
Numerous new traffic laws were also put into place in California on January 1, including:
- A ban on lowrider cruising has been lifted
- New guidelines have been put into place for when a law enforcement officer conducts a traffic stop
- A new law allows speed cameras in some cities
- Changes have been made to vehicle registration
- Changes have been made regarding towing of unregistered vehicles
- Changes have been made regarding vehicle safety regulations
- Traffic school inattendance penalties waived
- Imrpoved visibility at crosswalks and intersections
- Catalytic converter theft laws
Lowrider Cruising Ban Lifted
Existing law in California deemed it illegal to operate vehicles under 6,000 pounds which have been modified so any part of them, not including the wheels, have less clearance from a level roadway’s surface than the clearance in between the road and the lowest part of any wheel rim that contacts the road. This is essentially a ban on lowrider cruising.
AB-436 repeals the above prohibition and went into effect on January 1, 2024. Mexican Americans developed lowrider culture after World War II, and lowrider enthusiasts celebrated the new law, noting that cruising isn’t just about vehicles, it’s about the culture which inspired the vehicles.
A law from 1988 had also allowed local governments to make driving lowriders and cruising a traffic offense on city streets.
Peace Officer Traffic Stop Requirements
AB-2273 went into effect on January 1.
This new law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom requires peace officers who make traffic or pedestrian stops, prior to beginning questioning in relation to a traffic violation or criminal investigation, state why the stop has been made, unless the peace officer has a reasonable reason to think that not doing so is needed to prevent property or life from an imminent threat.
The bill’s intent is to prevent “pretext stops,” in which officers search for minor traffic safety violations like broken taillights to pull vehicles over in order to search the vehicles for contraband like drugs – supporters of the new law say pretext stops disproportionately affect minorities.
Speed Safety Pilot Program
AB-645 went into effect on January 1.
This new law allows the placement of speed cameras in the California cities of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Los Angeles, Glendale and Long Beach. The purpose of the cameras will be to catch speeding drivers in school zones and “safety corridors” in the cities.
Supporters of the new law hope it will reduce traffic deaths as well as improve traffic safety in the State of California.
Vehicle Registration Changes
AB-256 went into effect on January 1.
Existing law prohibits people from driving unregistered vehicles in California. While this existing law will continue to be in effect, the new law prevents violations of the existing law from being the only reason for any enforcement actions prior to the second month following the month that the vehicle registration expired.
Laws On Towing Cars With Expired Registration
AB-925 went into effect on January 1.
Existing law authorizes peace officers or other employees engaged in enforcing parking regulations and laws to remove vehicles which are found operated or parked on a road, public land or offstreet parking facility with expiration which expired over six months ago.
While this existing law will continue to be in effect, the new law requires that the person removing the vehicle first verify with the DMV that the vehicle is unregistered prior to vehicle removal. Vehicle removal will not be allowed when registration is on file with the DMV or when immediate access to DMV records is not available.
The new law will prevent vehicles with valid registration from being towed after their registration stickers have been stolen.
Vehicle Safety Regulations
SB-68 went into effect on January 1.
Existing law sets limits on how long drivers of vehicles with tanks with the capacity to carry over 500 gallons of flammable liquid can drive those vehicles. The law establishes a maximum time of driving of 10 hours, and prohibits drivers from driving more after being on duty for a period of 80 hours in eight consecutive days.
While the existing law will remain in effect, the new law authorizes California Highway Patrol to establish regulations and rules which allow drivers to exceed these limits during states of emergencies declared by the governor.
The new exceptions will only apply to vehicles which transport fuel which is used in emergency aircraft such as fire suppression aircraft.
Traffic School Inattendance Penalties
AB-466 went into effect on January 1.
Existing law considers it a misdemeanor to fail to attend traffic violator school after being ordered to do so by a court.
The new law removes provisions making failures to attend traffic violator schools misdemeanors and clarifies that failures to attend traffic violator schools are not punishable as new offenses.
Improved Visibility At Intersections And Crosswalks
AB-413 went into effect on January 1.
The new law prohibits the parking, standing or stopping of vehicles along curbs within 20 feet of its approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk, or within 15 feet of crosswalks with curb extensions.
Jurisdictions will be authorized, until January 1, 2025, to issue only warnings for violations, and will be prohibited from issuing citations for violations which do not occur in areas marked using signs or paint.
The new law is designed to increase visibility of oncoming traffic at California’s crosswalks and protect bicyclists and pedestrians.
Catalytic Converter Theft Laws
AB-641, AB-1519 and SB-55 went into effect on January 1.
The new laws are intended to crack down on catalytic converter theft.
The new laws:
- Redefine automobile dismantlers to include those who possess at least nine catalytic converters – those with legitimate purposes for having these converters are excluded from being penalized
- Create penalties for those who illegally dismantle automobiles
- Make it illegal to remove vehicle identification numbers from catalytic converters
- Make it illegal to possess at least three catalytic converters with removed vehicle identification numbers
- Require retailers and dealers of motor vehicles to etch or engrave vehicle identification numbers into catalytic converters before new or used vehicles are sold – this law allows purchasers to decline the etching or engraving
Contact An Attorney If You’ve Been Injured In A Car Accident
Traffic laws are intended to keep Californians safe on the roads of California. However, despite traffic laws, car accidents still sometimes occur.
Contact us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident which was not your fault. We can help you recover financial compensation after your car accident for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more.
We represent car accident victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t charge a fee until and unless we recover financial compensation for you.
If you can’t afford to get your car accident injuries treated, we can get you to doctors who won’t charge you until your case is over.
We have been representing car accident injury victims since 1990 and have recovered over 0,000,000 for our clients.
Call us today for a free consultation.
Jeffrey Nadrich
Jeffrey Nadrich is a nationally-recognized California plaintiff’s personal injury attorney. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of the Law. He has successfully represented thousands of injury clients over the last 40 years.
