New California Driving Laws to Know in 2020
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As most American drivers know, the rules of the road vary drastically from state to state, as do the consequences for breaking them. Since these laws change often, it’s critical to stay on top of changes, such as new California driving laws taking effect soon. Though there are some ways to reduce or get rid of traffic charges, it’s easiest to simply avoid them in the first place! This article will tell you what you need to know about California’s new rules of the road.
Harsher Penalties for Holding a Phone While Driving
Driving while holding a phone is already an offense in California. However, the penalties are about to get stiffer according to Assembly Bill 47. Assembly Bill 47 says if a distracted driving violation occurs on or after July 1, 2021, a point will be added to driver’s record if the violation was within 36 months of a previous cell phone infraction. The point will stay on your record for the next three years. This adds insurance implications and increases risk of license suspension.
Dealing with a Distracted Driving Citation
At first glance, the civil penalties for holding a phone while driving seem light. The first time you’re convicted, it’s a $20 fine. For all future convictions, it’s a $50 fine. But don’t get fooled, California is infamous for adding on “fees” to its citations. These fees will turn that $20 fine into about $150, and that $50 fine will likely be at least $250 total. Now that license points are involved, you’ll likely face increased insurance costs, which are not factored into those totals.
While it’s certainly tempting to just “get it over with” and move on from a cellphone ticket, now that license points are part of the equation, fighting it is more important than ever. One point may seem minor. Keep in mind that if you’re a commercial driver, it will technically be 1.5 points. You will get a formal warning from the state if you get two points in a year, and your license will be suspended if you get four points within a year.
Since officers often like to chain tickets together, let’s look at a hypothetical scenario: you are traveling at 75 mph on a 65 mph road and happened to be texting your ETA to your friend. An officer pulls you over and writes you a ticket for “minor speeding” and another one for “subsequent offense of holding phone while driving.” As each of these is a one-point violation by default, standard license holders would get a mailed warning. Commercial license holders would face suspension for this. Of course, including all of the fees tacked onto tickets, you would probably be paying over $1,000 for making a simple mistake and driving with traffic.
Under these more stringent new California driving laws, services like GetDismissed allow you to simply enter in your citation information, and they help get rid of your tickets! GetDismissed has helped thousands of drivers beat their tickets using Trial by Written Declaration. The price is a fraction of what you would pay in fines, let alone insurance increases.
Passengers No Longer Allowed to Smoke or Ingest Cannabis in a Hired Vehicle
While using cannabis when operating a motor vehicle was always illegal, using it while in a vehicle that you weren’t driving, like a taxi, was made legal when recreational cannabis was formally legalized. Unfortunately for medical patients and cannabis enthusiasts, House Bill 1820 makes this illegal. House Bill 1820 says passengers cannot smoke or ingest cannabis while on a bus, limousine, taxi, pedicab, house-car, or camper. If you’re a taxi or limo driver, allowing your passengers to smoke or ingest cannabis in any form could technically make you an “accessory” to the crime, and your permit could be revoked. Having said that, passengers of these vehicles are still allowed to consume alcohol.
Selected Intersections Will Allow Bicycles to Go Straight in Turn Lanes
You’ll also need to exercise more caution at certain intersections. Previously, bicyclists always had to use standard lanes of traffic at intersections. This will change. A new bill, AB 1266, was passed that will allow bicyclists to travel straight through a right or left-hand turn only lane. In addition, this bill requires California Department of Transportation to develop new street markings and standards for lane striping.
As always, it’s critical for drivers to pay attention to bicyclists. If a bicycle is crossing an intersection legally via a turn lane, and you hit that bicyclist because you were not expecting it to be there, you will be civilly liable for injuries and damages.
What to Do if You Get a Ticket
Remember, the police officer is not there to be your friend. He or she is there to enforce laws. Never make a self-incriminating statement. These are often in the form of answers to the question of “Do you know why I pulled you over?” You should be respectful, but don’t give the officer evidence of offenses that he or she may not have seen.
Do not panic and pay the fine. Don’t even schedule time off work to go to court. Just go to getdismissed.com, a service that specializes in getting rid of your tickets! California has a huge volume of documents designed to bog you down if you plead not guilty. GetDismissed already has these forms completed and ready. After sending your basic contact information, showing your citation, and paying $129, you will get all the documents you need to mail to the court. Keep your driving record clean, avoid license points, and save money by either visiting the site or calling (800) 580-3769 today!
Steve has been leading the fight against traffic tickets for over 22 years and is the CEO/President of GetDismissed, a service that empowers California drivers with traffic tickets to fight back without going to court. As a thought leader and business entrepreneur, Steve has also been featured on TV, Radio, Print, and Online as a traffic ticket expert talking about such subjects as distracted driving, contesting traffic tickets, traffic ticket myths, traffic ticket tips, traffic law, and more. Steve is a published author, releasing his first book in 2011, and now has four books regarding fighting traffic tickets which can be found on Amazon. Read More…
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What Types of Tickets Do We Help With?
GetDismissed produces results in fighting all kinds of tickets. Unfortunately, this list does not include exhibition of speed citations. Your best bet in fighting one of these infractions, is to contact an attorney. An attorney can negotiate on your behalf to try and reduce fines, or even to reduce the charges to a lesser infraction which could possibly qualify for traffic school.
We do however, contest infractions revolving around speeding, red lights, red light cameras, cell phones, signs (primarily stop signs), carpool violations, U-turns, out of lane violations, and commercial violations. If you receive a citation and have questions, contact us today.
