New driving laws start Jan. 1, 2020

The new year is almost upon us, and that means a slew of new laws will take effect in California on Jan. 1. Each year around this time, On the Road shares with our readers information about

new driving-related laws or changes to driving and traffic laws that are already on the books. The Department of Motor Vehicles, the California Highway Patrol and the Automobile Club of Southern California shared information about the new laws so we can help to keep you informed. Here’s a rundown.

First off, in case you were planning to sell, or try to sell, an appointment with the DMV to some desperate or impatient person, forget it. A new law makes it illegal to sell, or offer for sale, an appointment with the DMV. Everyone has to wait for their turn. (We know some DMV offices are crowded and all that, but it’s still kind of a surprise that there’s actually a need for a law like this. But there you have it.)

The state’s Clean Air Vehicle decal program also has some changes. Assembly Bill 544, passed in 2017, created a new program allowing low- and zeroemission vehicles to use the high-occupancy vehicle or diamond lanes for a four-year period, regardless of how many people are in the vehicle. In 2020, the DMV will issue orange decals granting access to HOV lanes until Jan. 1, 2024. In addition, Californians whose income is 80% or less than the statewide median income can receive a new orange decal after purchasing a used vehicle that had been previously issued a green or white clean air decal, which is now expired.

Currently, the only valid decals are red and purple decals, and those expire Jan. 1, 2022 and 2023, respectively. Qualifying vehicles are determined by the California Air Resources Board, and typically they are plug-in hybrid and zero-emission (battery, hydrogen fuel cell) vehicles.

With the exception of some vehicles that were issued green or white decals during a specific time frame (those also qualified for red decals), vehicles can only receive one color and can’t receive a new color decal. The new law with the low-income qualification changes that, but those vehicles have to be sold to someone meeting the low-income qualification to receive a new decal. You can find more information about the Clean Air Vehicle Program online at https://www.dmv. ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/ vr/decal.

If you drive a motorized scooter, you’ll like the new law that removes motorized scooters from the list of vehicles requiring a Class M2 license or permit. So, those who hold a valid driver’s license or permit of any class can operate a motorized scooter as of Jan. 1.

Tackling the problem of distracted driving is the intent of another new law passed in 2019, that would assess a point against your driving record in some cases if you are convicted of using a hand-held wireless communication device — basically, a cellphone — while driving without being hands-free. Previously, a conviction did not bring a point against your driving record.

The new law says drivers will get a point against their driving record if found guilty of violating California’s hands-free law within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense, beginning July 1, 2021, according to the CHP and AAA, which sponsored this law.

Another new law taking effect eliminates the authority of the courts to suspend, revoke, restrict or order the DMV to delay the driving privilege of someone convicted of prostitution, vandalism or other non-driving offenses. The law previously authorized or required courts to suspend or delay driving privileges, or to order the DMV to do so, of someone convicted of certain offenses that included vandalism, drug or alcohol possession or use, and the use of a gun. The new law repeals that.

And remember this too when you see a trash truck: A new law says that if you are approaching or passing a stopped garbage truck, you have to change lanes into an available lane next to the truck and pass at a safe distance considering safety and traffic conditions.

The new law states, “The driver of a vehicle on a public street or highway approaching and overtaking a stopped waste service vehicle shall make a lane change into an available lane adjacent to the waste service vehicle and shall pass at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the waste service vehicle, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, if practicable and not prohibited by law.”

Finally, the DMV would like to remind everyone again about the upcoming federal enforcement date for the REAL ID: Oct. 1, 2020. That’s when the Department of Homeland Security will require a valid passport or other federally approved document, like a REAL ID driver license or identification card, for people to board flights within the United States and to access secure federal facilities like federal courthouses and military bases. Don’t wait until the last minute!

Visit realid.dmv.ca.gov to see what documents you need for a REAL ID and for a list of REAL ID frequently asked questions. More great REAL ID information is available on the Department of Homeland Security website: www.dhs.gov/real-idpublic-faqs or online from the Transportation Security Administration: www.tsa.gov/real-id.

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