New Driving Laws in California

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, all licensed California drivers should be receiving legal information regarding several driving laws that had either been altered or added on and are completely brand new. Like any other industry, transportation must keep up with the changing times so recent cultural changes such as the ubiquity of ridesharing (no one thought Uber was going to last when it first started) and the legalization of not just medical but recreational marijuana have pushed the California Department of Motor Vehicles to make some amendments and additions to its already well-established rule base for keeping its drivers safe while they are on the road. If you plan on driving in the state of California anytime soon, it might be a good idea to know which of their laws have changed and what exactly has been added.

The Prohibition of Cannabis Use Inside Motor Vehicles

This law, clearly modeled after the “Don’t drink and drive” campaign, makes it illegal for the driver of a vehicle or any of its passengers to smoke, vape, hotbox, blaze, toke, or otherwise ingest marijuana or marijuana-containing products (that includes your gummi bear edibles) in any way. A first offense could get you negative points on your license and/or a fine.

Lower Blood Alcohol Limit for DUI in Drivers of For-Hire Vehicles

The sudden boom in popularity of ride-sharing services such as Uber, Lyft and their dozens and dozens of offspring has caused the California DOT to lower the blood alcohol content necessary to qualify for driving under the influence from the standard .08% down to .04%, which is the same blood alcohol content permitted to truck drivers and operators of other types of commercial vehicles. The idea behind this is that drivers who take on the responsibility of passengers all throughout the day will be held to a higher standard of responsibility and safe driving since they are responsible for so many lives.

Motorcycle Training Course vs. Road Test

The road and skills test issued by the DMV that was previously required for those applying for a motorcycle license can now be satisfied by a valid certificate of completion from any state-approved motorcycle training program. Residents of California who are under 21 years of age will still be expected to successfully participate in and complete the novice motorcycle training course.

Busses and Seatbelt Regulations

Passengers who take buses that come equipped with seatbelts will be required by law to use them. Children between the ages of 8 and 16 are also required to use the seat belts. The new law places this responsibility squarely on the parent or guardian who is riding with the minor child. The bus companies will be responsible for making sure that their restraints meet federal safety requirements at all times and may be subject to inspections.

The rules of the road exist in order to help keep everyone safe. Driving is a dangerous business and we as a society need certain enforcement and regulations in order to ensure that your morning commute isn’t some weird combination of the Indy 500 and the bumper cars at the state fair.  If you have been in a car accident that you believe was caused by someone else’s negligence and are now suffering from any type of injury, it is important that you seek qualified legal representation as soon as you possibly can. We here at Los Angles Injury Group have a team of experienced personal injury attorneys who have years of practice handling these types of cases here in California. If you would like to speak to one of our hard-working attorneys regarding a free consultation after your car accident, then please give us a call at 310-954-7248 today.