New laws on sideshows, catalytic converters, coming to California in 2023
CALIFORNIA (KOLO) – Like Nevada, California’s neighboring state will have a slew of new laws taking effect in 2023.
Here’s what will become law in the new year:
SB 960:
This law requires that all peace officers, including peace officer trainees, be legally authorized to work in the United States in accordance with federal law and regulations, however, it waives the requirement that they be citizens or permanent residents of United States.
SB 1087:
These laws specifically list who can sell catalytic converters to recyclers and require those recyclers to keep documentation such as the year, make, model and title copy of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed. The purpose of these laws is to help reduce catalytic converter theft.
SB 1472:
This law expands the criteria for “gross negligence” as it relates to the crime of vehicular homicide. Drivers involved in sideshow activity, speeding, or speeding over 100 miles per hour resulting in a fatality can now be charged with Vehicular Manslaughter by gross negligence.
AB 2000:
Car parks and off-street parking facilities are now included as places where it is a crime to engage in a speed competition, speed exhibition or sideshow activity.
AB 1314:
The new “feather alert” allows law enforcement agencies to request the CHP to initiate an alert when an indigenous person has been abducted, abducted or reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances and specific criteria have been met to allowed to activate the alarm. Additionally, consistent with the Department’s existing AMBER, Blue and Silver Alert programs, this new “Feather Alert” program encourages the use of radio, television and social media to spread information about the missing Indigenous person.
AB 1732:
This law authorizes law enforcement agencies to require the CHP to activate the “Yellow Alert” when a fatal hit-and-run collision has occurred and specific criteria have been met to allow the alert to be activated. The law also encourages local media to disseminate information contained in a yellow alert. The new law serves to use the public’s help to improve investigative skills for law enforcement agencies across the state when working to solve fatal collisions.
AB 1700:
This law requires the Attorney General’s Office to establish an online reporting system for users of third-party online marketplaces to report listings of suspected stolen items. Information reported will be available to local law enforcement and the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force to assist with investigations.
AB 1909:
Like the moving or slowing down law, this law provides greater protection for bicyclists by requiring vehicles passing or overtaking a bicyclist in the same direction to move into an adjacent traffic lane, if available, or slow down speed and pass the cyclist only when it is safe to do so. The law also allows riders of Class 3 e-bikes to use approved cycle paths and trails, cycle paths and cycle lanes. The law prohibits local governments from requiring bicycle registration and allows local authorities to ban any electric bicycle on a horse trail, hiking trail or other recreational trail.
AB 1946:
This requires the CHP to work with other traffic safety stakeholders, such as the California Office of Traffic Safety, to develop statewide e-bike safety and training programs. This training program, which will consist of e-bike riding safety, emergency maneuvering skills, road rules and e-bike laws, will be launched on the CHP website in September 2023.
AB 2147:
This law prohibits peace officers from stopping pedestrians for certain specific pedestrian violations, such as crossing the road outside a crosswalk, unless there is an immediate danger of an accident. The CHP reminds all road users of their responsibility to travel safely and look out for each other on the road
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