CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC LAWS

Driver's Education: Driver's education must include at least six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. (AB 1088 - Bill Morrow)

Drugs and Driving: In addition to other penalties, people convicted of using illegal drugs, regardless of whether they were driving at the time of their arrest, face suspension of their driving privileges for six months.
(AB 95 - Larry Bowler)

Drunk Driving: Named for a girl who was killed by a repeat drunk driver, "Courtney's Law" imposes prison terms of 15 years to life--more than double current penalties--for repeat drunk drivers who are involved in fatal collisions. (AB 1985 - Jackie Speier)

Juvenile Drinkers: Drivers under age 21 who knowingly carry opened or unopened containers of alcohol in their cars face a misdemeanor count. (AB 2000 - Jan Goldsmith)

Drunk Boating: The allowable blood-alcohol level for people under 21 operating a boat is now reduced from 0.05% to 0.01%, the same as for people under 21 driving a car. (AB 749 - Steven Kuykendall)

Driver's Licenses: Drivers with good records will be able to renew their licenses every five years instead of every four years. The renewal fee will rise from $12 to $15. (AB 2352 - Jackie Speier)

Disabled Parking: Applicants for disabled-person parking placards must submit detailed information from their physicians on their condition.
(SB 1498 - Quentin Kopp)

Prostitution: In legislation aimed at men who pick up streetwalkers, judges can suspend the driver's license of people convicted of engaging in acts of prostitution within 1,000 feet of a private home when the act occurs in a motor vehicle. (AB 2949 - Trice Harvey)

Reckless: The fine for driving recklessly while evading a police officer is raised to $10,000. (AB 1999 - William Knight)

Racing: Police can arrest motorists engaged in a drag race and impound their vehicles as a way of thwarting such illegal contests on neighborhood streets. Previously, authorities needed to obtain a conviction before they could seize the car. (AB 2288 - Fred Aguiar)

Yield: Motorists must yield to the right when overtaken by another vehicle whose headlights are flashing. (SB 1588 - Quentin Kopp)

Child Restraints: Car rental companies must issue public notices that read: "California law requires all children under the age of 4, regardless of weight, or weighing less than 40 pounds, regardless of age, to be transported in a child restraint system." (AB 3020 - Larry Bowler)