Transportation Issues
Speed Limit - President Clinton signed federal legislation to repeal the national 55 mile per hour speed limit and granted state transportation directors the authority to implement this change. SB 726 by Senator Kopp was also signed into law to remove the 55 mph limit from state law. SB 726 will result in an automatic increase in the state and local highway to a maximum speed of 65 mph, unless an engineering and traffic survey is conducted on each segrnent of highway affected to support a lower speed. There are approximately 20,000 miles of local (mainly rural) highways which may be affected-by the automatic increase. The change is not effective until the Director of CalTrans, James Van Loben Sels, takes officia~action to institute the change. Director Van Loben Sels has indicated he intends to implement this change for the state and local highways on March 31, 1996. The speed limit for truck combinations and those vehicles listed under Section 22406 of the California Vehicle Code will remain at 55 mph. Separate legislative action is required to change these lirnits.
Toll Evasion Citation Procedures - Currently, toll evasion and attempts to evade paying tolls is a crime. AB 1223 will be enacted on January 1,1996 and makes toll evasion and the attempt to evade a toll a civil offense. Toll evasion citations are sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. The DMV must re-fuse to renew the registration of a vehicle with any uncleared toll evasion citations. The DMV is authonzed to accept payment of toll evasion on behalf of toll facility agencies and to charge a fee to cover its processing costs.
Safety Enhancement Double Fine Zones - In an attempt to increase safety on certain highways considered particularly hazardous, SB 414 requires CalTrans, in consultation with the CHP, to develop three pilot projects; two in northern California and one in southem California. Signs will be posted to alert drivers that portions of the highways involved are "safety enhancement double fine zones." Misdemeanors committed by drivers in these zones will receive fines double the normal amount. In case of an infraction the penalty will be one category higher than the penalty scheduled established in current law.
Registrahon Exemption - This new law (AB 1541) exempts a repossessed vehicle from registration solely for the purposes of transporting the vehicle from the point of repossession to a storage facility and from the storage facility to the legal owner or licensed motor vehicle auction.
License Extension - SB 726 specifies that the fee for renewals by mail of commercial drivers' licenses is $27.
Alley Access - AB 356 permits local authorities by ordinance to restrict vehicular traffic through alleys by gates, barriers or other control devices, under certain circumstances.
Warning Lamps on Tow Trucks - SB 240 exempts tractor-trailer combinations from displaying flashing amber warning lamps when used to tow disabled buses or other large vehicles to perform salvage work.
Seismic Retrofit Bond Act of 1996 - SB 146 authorizes $2 billion in state general obligation bonds for the seismic retrofit of state-owned highways and bridges. The bond measure will be submitted to the voters on the March 26,1996 ballot and again on the November 5, 1996 ballot should it fail in March.
Fuel Taxes - SJR 9 memorializes the President and Congress to enact appropriate legislation to eliminate all federal fuel taxes, except as specified, and that states be given the discretion of levying their own fuel taxes.
Federal Transportation Programs - SJR 10 memorializes the President and Congress to:
This resolution also urges state transportation agencies not to participate
in the formulation of a national
transportation system.
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