Bill Text: CA AB2683 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Exterior vehicle lighting: illuminated signs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-05 - Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. [AB2683 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB2683-Amended.html

---

Amended  IN  Assembly  May 04, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2683

---

Introduced by Assembly Member Grayson

February 20, 2020

---

An act to amend Section 15620 of add Section 25400.5 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2683, as amended, Grayson. Unattended children in vehicles. Exterior vehicle lighting: illuminated signs.

Existing law permits a vehicle to be equipped with an exterior lamp or device that emits a diffused light, subject to certain conditions, as specified.

This bill would permit the installation of an illuminated sign on the rooftop of a vehicle if certain requirements are met, including, among others, that the illuminated sign is safely secured to the vehicle. The bill would provide that it does not limit the existing authority of a city, county, or city and county.

Existing law makes it an infraction for a parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for a child who is 6 years of age or younger to leave that child inside a motor vehicle without the supervision of a person who is 12 years of age or older when there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child’s health or safety or when the engine is running or the keys are in the ignition. Existing law makes that infraction punishable by a fine of $100.

This bill would increase that fine to $200.

Digest Key

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

---

Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 25400.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

25400.5.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 25400, an illuminated sign may be installed on the rooftop of a vehicle subject to all of the following requirements:

(1) The illuminated sign shall be safely secured to the vehicle and no more than one may be installed on any single vehicle.

(2) A portion of the illuminated sign shall not extend beyond the front or rear windshield of the vehicle.

(3) The illuminated sign shall display content only to the sides of the vehicle and not to the front or rear of the vehicle. The illuminated sign’s light-emitting surface shall be limited in size to an area of 720 square inches per side.

(4) Light emitted from an illuminated sign shall not interfere with, obstruct, or otherwise distract from any traffic sign, signal, or device, or otherwise operate to cause an unsafe condition. The illuminated sign shall not display flashing lights pursuant to Section 25250.

(5) Content displayed on the illuminated sign shall be static when the vehicle is operating at 45 miles per hour or more on a freeway, as defined in Section 257 of the Streets and Highways Code.

(b) This section does not limit the existing authority of a city, county, or city and county.

SECTION 1.Section 15620 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

15620.

(a)A parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for a child who is 6 years of age or younger shall not leave that child inside a motor vehicle without being subject to the supervision of a person who is 12 years of age or older, under either of the following circumstances:

(1)When there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child’s health or safety.

(2)When the vehicle’s engine is running or the vehicle’s keys are in the ignition, or both.

(b)A violation of subdivision (a) is an infraction punishable by a fine of two hundred dollars ($200), except that the court may reduce or waive the fine if the defendant establishes to the satisfaction of the court that the defendant is economically disadvantaged and the court, instead, refers the defendant to a community education program that includes education on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles, and provides certification of completion of that program. Upon completion of that program, the defendant shall provide that certification to the court. The court may, in its discretion, require the defendant described in this section to attend an education program on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles.

(c)This section does not preclude prosecution under both this section and Section 192 or 273a of the Penal Code or any other law.

(d)(1)Subdivision (b) and Section 40000.1 do not apply if an unattended child is injured or medical services are rendered on that child because of a violation described in subdivision (a).

(2)This subdivision does not preclude prosecution under any other law.