An estimated 1,000 new pieces of legislation will shape the lives of Californians ” most of the laws having taken effect Jan. 1 ” including bills addressing cell phone use in vehicles, smoking in private vehicles and a bump in the state’s minimum wage.
While some bills took effect the day Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed them ” like the authorization for $146 million for the construction of a central health facility at San Quentin State Prison signed into law in September ” the vast majority of the laws took hold Tuesday.
Other legislation Schwarzenegger signed includes new laws affecting transportation, teen drinking laws and the San Diego River Conservancy.
The following is a brief description of some of the new bills:
“¢ According to officials with the California Department of Industrial Relations, the California minimum wage increased from $7.50 per hour to $8.00 per hour as of Jan. 1. That compares with the pending federal minimum wage rate increase from $5.85 per hour to $6.55 per hour ” a move slated to take effect July 24, 2008.
“¢ Some of the more high-profile laws also include a new “hands-free” mobile phone law that will take effect July 1.
At that point, it will be against the law to drive while using a cell phone handset. Drivers must use “hands-free” technology if they want to talk on the phone while driving, according to officials with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
As part of the law, minors under the age of 18 would be prohibited from using cell phones at all while driving ” even if they have “hands-free” technology.
San Diego Police Department Sgt. Victor Colvin said he thinks the new law is a good idea. He said cell phone use while driving presents problems because it distracts the driver.
Colvin said he rides a motorcycle and was nearly struck by a driver who changed lanes in front of him.
“She was talking away on the cell phone and never even looked over her shoulder and never saw me,” he said.
Fines for a first offense of the upcoming cell-phone laws are $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses. Some commercial truck drivers using a cell phone with a “push-to-talk” feature will be exempt from the law.
“¢ A new smoking law affecting drivers also took hold Tuesday.
The new law prohibits adults from smoking while driving with a minor under 18 years old in the same vehicle.
The California Air Resources Board declared secondhand smoke to be a toxic air contaminant, said Ross Porter, the American Lung Association’s communications director.
“Very often smoking happens in a closed vehicle the windows aren’t rolled down and kids are present. That’s high concentrations of secondhand smoke for young lungs,” he said.
Those caught violating the law can be fined $100. However, police cannot pull over a driver for the sole purpose of determining whether the driver is violating the law, according to language in the bill.
The new law could provide incentive for those wanting to quit smoking this new year, he said. Ross said anybody looking for information on how to quit can call the California Smokers Helpline, based in San Diego, at (800) NO-BUTTS.
“¢ Other legislation affecting local resources ” co-authored by local legislators California Sen. Christine Kehoe and Assemblywoman Lori Saldaãa ” would expand the lands under the protection of the San Diego River Conservancy to include tributaries, flumes and historically significant areas of the San Diego River.
The law also adds two seats to the voting membership of the San Diego River Conservancy Board, expanding it from nine to 11, according to language in the bill.
Created in 2002 through legislation authored by Kehoe, the San Diego River Conservancy helps protect 52 miles of the San Diego River, according to Kehoe’s office.
For a full list and text of every bill signed into law over the last year, visit the website of the governor’s office at www.gov.ca.gov/bills.