Bill Text: CA AB3093 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Vehicles: headlamps.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-29 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading. [AB3093 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB3093-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 3093

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Introduced by Assembly Member Ward

February 16, 2024

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An act to amend Section 12500 of add Section 24412 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 3093, as amended, Ward. Vehicles: driver’s licenses. headlamps.

Existing law requires a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, to be equipped with at least 2 headlamps, with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, as specified. Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated during darkness, existing law requires the driver to use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to specified requirements and limitations.

This bill would authorize every new passenger vehicle, motortruck, and bus manufactured or sold in the state to be equipped with headlamps with adaptive driving beam technology, as defined.

Existing law, except as specifically provided, prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle upon a highway or offstreet parking facility unless the person holds a valid driver’s license of the type required to operate the type of vehicle the person is operating.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.

Digest Key

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

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 24412 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

24412.

 (a) Every new passenger vehicle, motortruck, and bus manufactured or sold in the state may be equipped with headlamps with adaptive driving beam (ADB) technology.

(b) For purposes of this section, “adaptive driving beam” means a long-range light beam for forward visibility, which automatically modifies portions of the projected light to reduce glare to traffic participants on an ongoing, dynamic basis, as defined and regulated in federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards regulations (49 C.F.R. Part 571).

SECTION 1.Section 12500 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

12500.

(a)A person shall not drive a motor vehicle upon a highway, unless the person holds a valid driver’s license issued under this code, except those persons who are expressly exempted under this code.

(b)A person shall not drive a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle upon a highway, unless the person holds a valid driver’s license or endorsement issued under this code for that class, except those persons who are expressly exempted under this code, or those persons specifically authorized to operate motorized bicycles or motorized scooters with a valid driver’s license of any class, as specified in subdivision (h) of Section 12804.9.

(c)A person shall not drive a motor vehicle in or upon any offstreet parking facility, unless the person holds a valid driver’s license of the appropriate class or certification to operate the vehicle. As used in this subdivision, “offstreet parking facility” means any offstreet facility held open for use by the public for parking vehicles and includes any publicly owned facilities for offstreet parking, and privately owned facilities for offstreet parking where no fee is charged for the privilege to park and which are held open for the common public use of retail customers.

(d)A person shall not drive a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles that is not of a type for which the person is licensed.

(e)A motorized scooter operated on public streets shall at all times be equipped with an engine that complies with the applicable State Air Resources Board emission requirements.