Transportation & Road Safety

Expands the school transportation safety advisory committee from 11 to 13 members to include low-income voices. Requires appointment of two low-income community members, one each from urban and rural areas. Maintains the committee's role in developing school transportation safety regulations with CHP.

Establishes a pilot program to install suicide deterrents on five San Bernardino County freeway overpasses. Requires installation of both physical barriers and prevention signage on selected overpasses. Prioritizes overpasses with the highest documented suicide rates over the past 20 years.

Increases the maximum document processing fee that car dealers can charge to up to $500 or 1% of vehicle price. Exempts vehicle sales to the State of California from the increased document processing charges. Maintains existing requirements that dealers cannot represent these charges as government fees.

Authorizes cities and counties to install automated traffic cameras to detect red light violations with a $100 civil penalty. Requires jurisdictions to post clear warning signs and conduct a 60-day warning period before issuing citations. Mandates revenue be used for traffic safety improvements and prohibits payment to vendors based on citation volume. Creates payment plans and reduced fines for low-income violators while protecting privacy of violation records.

Authorizes local governments to immediately remove vehicles that create imminent health and safety hazards. Eliminates the requirement for property owner approval before removing abandoned vehicles valued under $200. Requires public agencies to hold removal hearings within 48 hours of a request, excluding weekends. Mandates notification to vehicle owners within 48 hours of removal via certified or first-class mail.

Makes technical changes to vehicle accident reporting requirements without substantive modifications.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to improve road safety across California.

Increases county recording fees from $10 to $15 for first pages and $3 to $4 for additional pages. Requires all recording fees to be used exclusively for county recorder operations and modernization. Permanently extends the $1 fee for document preservation and digital archiving programs. Mandates that total fees cannot exceed the reasonable costs of providing recording services.

Extends California's road usage charge pilot program through January 1, 2035 to evaluate mileage-based fees. Addresses projected $4 billion annual decline in gas tax revenue due to increasing electric vehicle adoption. Continues testing payment systems that could provide gas tax relief for low-income drivers. Requires additional engagement with rural communities and tribal nations on road charge implementation.

Requires all port terminals to conduct mandatory safety inspections of intermodal chassis before release. Expands inspection requirements to include container devices, mud flaps, landing legs, and frame damage. Extends inspection record retention from 90 days to 6 months and requires repairs before transport. Prohibits retaliation against drivers who report unsafe chassis conditions or request reinspections.

Authorizes Sacramento to join six other California cities in operating automated speed cameras through 2032. Requires cities to install warning signs and issue warnings instead of tickets for the first 60 days of enforcement. Mandates removal of speed cameras after 18 months unless they reduce speeding by at least 20 percent. Restricts camera placement to school zones, high-crash areas, and streets with frequent illegal street racing.

Exempts vehicles that are 30 or more model years old from California's biennial smog check requirement. Expands the current smog check exemption which only applies to pre-1976 vehicles. Maintains existing exemptions for collector vehicles that meet specific insurance and inspection criteria.

Authorizes local agencies to develop alternative transportation plans for the canceled Feather River crossing project. Requires proceeds from excess property sales to fund regional transportation priorities. Allows Yuba City and surrounding counties to address local transportation needs through joint planning.

Authorizes agencies to reduce or waive parking penalties for those who demonstrate financial hardship or homelessness. Allows people to request parking ticket payment plans at any time, removing previous deadline restrictions. Requires parking agencies to offer $25 monthly payment plans for fines under $500 to qualifying low-income individuals. Mandates clear communication of payment options on violation notices and agency websites.

Mandates a 15-year prison sentence for drivers who flee accidents resulting in death or permanent serious injury. Increases penalties from the current 2-4 year sentence range for hit-and-run accidents with severe outcomes. Defines permanent serious injury as the loss or permanent impairment of function of a bodily member or organ.

Makes technical changes to provisions regarding state highway maintenance and improvement.

Limits fees that online vehicle registration companies can charge for DMV renewal services. Requires private registration companies to display a link to the DMV's free services on their websites. Mandates annual DMV oversight reports on private partners' transaction volumes and fraud detection. Establishes a $3 transaction fee for registration services through private partners.

Removes deed restrictions requiring public-only use of a specific Lynwood property transferred from Caltrans in 2016. Releases the City of Lynwood from a 15-year public use requirement on the Imperial Highway property. Enables the city to utilize the Alameda triangle portion of the property for non-public purposes.

Mandates accessible pedestrian signals at state-operated crosswalks to help visually impaired pedestrians. Requires touch-free pedestrian signal buttons at all new state highway crossings. Implements leading pedestrian intervals to give walkers a head start before vehicle traffic. Creates a statewide database to track and monitor pedestrian signal improvements.

Requires railroads to install defect-detection systems every 10 miles along freight train tracks. Prohibits freight trains longer than 7,500 feet from operating on California rail lines. Mandates stopped trains to clear railroad crossings when emergency vehicles approach. Establishes penalties up to $25,000 for railroads that violate safety requirements.

Establishes a Blue Envelope Program by 2027 to improve communication between police and drivers with disabilities. Requires DMV to provide blue envelopes containing safety tips and space for medical information during traffic stops. Allows family members and guardians to request blue envelopes for passengers with disabilities. Permits law enforcement agencies to create additional accessibility tools like decals and wristbands.

Establishes regulations for eMotos, which are electric two-wheeled devices built on bicycle infrastructure without pedals. Requires eMotos to display identification plates or devices issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Classifies eMotos as off-highway vehicles subject to existing safety requirements and operating rules. Expands criminal penalties to include violations of eMoto regulations.

Requires manufacturers to report crashes involving self-driving features within 5 days to the DMV. Mandates reporting when crashes result in injuries, deaths, airbag deployment, or impacts with pedestrians. Imposes daily fines of $27,874 on manufacturers who fail to report qualifying crashes. Requires DMV to publish crash data online while protecting personal and business information.

Expands off-highway vehicle recreation grants to include special districts with sworn law enforcement personnel. Maintains existing funding allocations with 50% for operations, 25% for restoration, and 20% for law enforcement. Requires annual financial audits and performance reviews of at least 20% of grant recipients. Mandates matching funds of 25% for most projects and 10% for restoration projects.

Prohibits towing companies from charging extra storage fees during state holidays beyond standard daily rates. Bans towing fees when law enforcement directs vehicle removal during emergencies. Protects tow truck operators from liability for property damage during emergency-related vehicle removals. Requires storage facilities to charge half-rate fees when vehicles are recovered within four hours.