Bill Text: CA SB466 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Senate Bill 466 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Rental passenger vehicle transactions: electronic surveillance technology: AMBER Alert.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-07-31 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 163, Statutes of 2017. [SB466 Detail]

Download: California-2017-SB466-Enrolled.html

Enrolled July 19, 2017

Passed IN Senate May 22, 2017

Passed IN Assembly July 17, 2017

Amended IN Senate May 09, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 466

Introduced by Senator Bates
(Coauthor: Senator Nguyen)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Baker)

February 16, 2017

An act to amend Section 1939.23 of the Civil Code, relating to rental passenger vehicle transactions.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 466, Bates. Rental passenger vehicle transactions: electronic surveillance technology: AMBER Alert.

Existing law generally governs the transactions between a rental company, also referred to as a rental car company, and its customers, including, among other provisions, restrictions on a rental company’s use of electronic surveillance technology. Existing law, as part of those restrictions, prohibits a rental company from using, accessing, or obtaining any information relating to the renter’s use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except under specified circumstances.

This bill would additionally authorize that electronic surveillance technology to be used, accessed, or obtained by a rental company in circumstances in which the rental vehicle is the subject of an AMBER Alert. The bill would require a rental company, if it uses the equipment in this manner, to notify law enforcement that one of the rental company’s vehicles is the subject of an AMBER Alert upon becoming aware of the situation, except as specified.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 1939.23 of the Civil Code is amended to read:

1939.23.

(a) A rental company shall not use, access, or obtain any information relating to the renter’s use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:

(1) (A) When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:

(i) The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.

(ii) The rental vehicle has not been returned following one week after the contracted return date or by one week following the end of an extension of that return date.

(iii) The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, the rental company shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.

(iv) The rental vehicle is the subject of an AMBER Alert issued pursuant to Section 8594 of the Government Code. If the rental company uses the equipment in connection with this provision relating to an AMBER Alert, the rental company shall notify law enforcement that one of the rental company’s vehicles is the subject of an AMBER Alert upon becoming aware of the situation, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle was the subject of an AMBER Alert.

(B) If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renter’s request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.

(2) In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.

(b) Subdivision (a) does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with any of the following:

(1) GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renter’s use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.

(2) Electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renter’s use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.

(3) Electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renter’s use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.

(c) Subdivision (a) does not prohibit a rental company from obtaining, accessing, or using information from electronic surveillance technology for the sole purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle departs from and is returned to the rental company, and the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. The information obtained or accessed from this electronic surveillance technology shall only be used for the purpose described in this subdivision.

(d) A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renter’s use of the rental vehicle.