Bill Text: CA AB1266 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 1266 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Traffic control devices: bicycles.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-09-04 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 221, Statutes of 2019. [AB1266 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB1266-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 1266

CHAPTER 221

An act to amend Section 22101 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

[ Approved by Governor September 04, 2019. Filed with Secretary of State September 04, 2019. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1266, Robert Rivas. Traffic control devices: bicycles.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation or local authorities to erect official traffic control devices within or adjacent to intersections of highways under their respective jurisdictions to regulate or prohibit turning movements at those intersections. When a turn is required, existing law requires the erection of a sign giving notice of that requirement, except as specified. Existing law prohibits a driver of a vehicle from disobeying the directions of a traffic control device erected pursuant to that provision.

This bill would exempt from the prohibition described above operators of bicycles traveling straight through an intersection, if an official traffic control device indicates that the movement is permitted. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to develop standards to implement these provisions.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 22101 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

22101.

(a) The Department of Transportation or local authorities, in respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, may cause official traffic control devices to be placed or erected within or adjacent to intersections to regulate or prohibit turning movements at such intersections.

(b) When turning movements are required at an intersection, notice of that requirement shall be given by erection of a sign, unless an additional clearly marked traffic lane is provided for the approach to the turning movement, in which event notice as applicable to that additional traffic lane shall be given by an official traffic control device.

(c) When right- or left-hand turns are prohibited at an intersection, notice of that prohibition shall be given by erection of a sign.

(d) When an official traffic control device is placed as required in subdivisions (b) or (c), it is unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to disobey the directions of the official traffic control device.

(e) (1) A person operating a bicycle may travel straight through a right- or left-hand turn only lane when an official traffic control device indicates that the movement is permitted.

(2) The Department of Transportation shall develop standards for lane striping, pavement markings, and appropriate regulatory signs to implement this subdivision.