By Charly SHELTON

It’s a new year, which means new laws are being enacted. From the availability of police body cam footage to non-binary gender option on a driver’s license to accepting street vendors in all locations, the new laws range from the mundane to the majorly influential – and all went into effect as of Jan. 1. Let’s take a look at some of the most noticeable additions for California and nationally.

Traffic

SB 179: Driver’s licenses now have more than two gender options. Following suit with many other places that provide options beyond biological genders, California driver’s licenses and identification cards now offer as options male, female or non-binary. This allows registrants to self-certify their chosen gender category. Non-binary designation will be shown with the letter X under the gender category.

AB 2989: With electric scooters for rent found strewn across sidewalks, driveways and streets of many major cities across the country, it’s now easier to pick one up and start scootin’. Bicycle helmets are no longer required for riders of motorized scooters ages 18 or older. AB 2989 also amends an existing law to prohibit a person from operating a motorized scooter on a highway with a speed limit greater than 25 miles per hour.

AB 1824: If your car exhaust is “excessively loud,” you will get a ticket. Previously, a fix-it ticket was issued but now it’s a full-on fine. This is a recurring issue, especially in Glendale, with cars that have had mufflers removed or modified so they’re louder. A fix-it ticket can be rescinded upon proof of adding the muffler, but then the muffler can be removed again. This fine will now increase with each ticket, becoming more expensive each time for repeat offenders.

“[For dealing with] the modified exhaust system, this law will give us some teeth to hopefully curb some actions of people who are not necessarily thinking about their neighbors,” said Sgt. Dan Suttles, public information officer with the Glendale Police Dept.

Guns

SB 1100: Until recently, people had to be 21 to buy a handgun, but only 18 to buy long guns like shotguns and rifles. This law raises the age for all gun purchases to 21.

AB 3129: This law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from owning a gun. The ban is lifetime and only applies to convictions after 2018.

AB 2103: Under this law, in order to obtain a concealed carry permit, applicants must undergo at least eight hours of training on firearm safety, handling and technique. They must also pass a live-fire shooting exercise at a firing range.

Law Enforcement Transparency

AB 748: With the rise of shooting incidents called into question many law enforcement officers now wear body cameras. Now, to increase transparency with the public that they protect and serve, their body cam footage must be released within 45 days of an incident in which officers fired shots or used force and caused harm or death, except where the footage would compromise an ongoing investigation. This law goes into effect July 1, 2019.

SB 1421: Makes publicly available the investigation records of use-of-force, sexual assault and lying while on duty cases.

Marijuana

AB 1793: Makes the 2016 recreational marijuana use law retroactive to possibly reduce or expunge past convictions for possession, sale and cultivation convictions of marijuana.

AB 2020: Allows local lawmakers to temporarily license venues for cannabis sales during events. Hello, pop-up weed fairs.

Sexual Harassment

AB 3109 and SB 820: These two laws work similarly in different areas and both are the epitome of the changes brought about by the #MeToo movement. These are all about not staying silent. AB 3109 invalidates any provision in any contract or settlement agreement that waives a person’s right to testify in an administrative, legislative or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or sexual harassment. SB 820 goes one step further and prevents non-disclosure provisions in settlement agreements over sexual assault, sexual harassment or workplace harassment. Let the truth be free.

SB 970: This law requires a minimum of 20 minutes of training in human trafficking awareness for hotel employees who may come in contact with victims of human trafficking, specifically in reception areas and housekeeping.

Food

AB 1871: This year, charter schools will be made to uphold the same lunch rule as public schools – offering reduced-cost and free lunches to students from low-income families.

SB 946: Local governments can no longer ban street vendors who sell food or other products. They can still set up a licensing system to control who sells and where, but cannot prohibit the practice outright. And violations of the licensing system (i.e., selling without a license) can only be met with citations or fines, not criminal charges as before.

  Charly Shelton