New rules on text-messaging and 911 use, higher traffic fines are among many changes as dozens of state laws take effect
In '09, messaging motorists will pay. Hospital workers who snoop will face tougher penalties.
Californians must abide by dozens of new state laws taking effect today (Jan. 1), including bans on text-messaging while driving, electronic bingo machines and bidding on state contracts by companies that do business with the government of Sudan, which the U.S. has accused of genocide.
The California Highway Patrol plans no grace period before enforcing the law that takes effect today prohibiting the use of text-messaging devices -- including cellphones, BlackBerrys and laptop computers -- while driving, according to CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader. And a motorist does not have to be caught in a vehicle that is moving to get a ticket.
"Motorists may not text at a stoplight," she said. "They are still operating a vehicle and need to focus their attention on the safe operation of that vehicle."
Fines are $20 for first offenses and $50 for subsequent violations, Clader said.
A separate law, aimed at paying for new courthouses, will raise the price of traffic tickets starting today. Infractions will carry a new $35 assessment, and the fee to process a request to attend traffic school and keep the ticket off the driver's record will be $49, up from $24. Fines imposed upon convictions of misdemeanors or felonies will result in an additional $30 assessment.
The fines will raise $5 billion over several years to repair or replace the 40 worst court facilities in California.
Two more laws taking effect today have garnered national attention for creating a new state office with the authority to investigate and impose harsh new penalties on hospital workers who snoop without permission in patient medical records.
The laws were approved after The Times reported that more than 100 employees at UCLA Medical Center peeked at the confidential files of famous people, including actress Farrah Fawcett, pop star Britney Spears and California First Lady Maria Shriver.
The governor signed 771 bills into law this year. But some, including a requirement for restaurants to provide nutritional information to diners, will not take effect until months or even years from now.
The nutrition law, which affects restaurant chains with 20 or more outlets, requires brochures to be supplied to diners beginning July 1 and calorie counts on menus starting in 2011. Another measure requires that fruity beverages known as "alcopops" be prominently labeled as containing alcohol, starting July 1.
