2007 California traffic laws.

[Quicksilver]

1. Carpool lane - 1st time $1068.50 starting 7/1/07 (The $271 posted on the highway is old). Don't do it again because 2nd time is going to be double. 3rd time triple, and 4th time license suspended.

2. Incorrect lane change - $380. Don't cross the lane on solid lines or intersections.

3. Block intersection - $485

4. Driving on the shoulder - $450

5. Cell phone use in the construction zone. - Double fine as of 07/01/07. Cell phone use must be "hands free" while driving.

6. Passengers over 18 not in their seatbelts - both passengers and drivers get tickets.

7. Speeders can only drive 3 miles above the limit.

8. DUI = JAIL (Stays on your driving record for 10 years!)

9. As of 07/01/07 cell phone use must be "hands free" while driving. Ticket is $285. They will be looking for this like crazy - easy money for police department

If you believed any of the above so called laws you've been snookered.

Here's the real deal................


As for the specific laws listed above:

1. Carpool lane - 1st time $1068.50 starting 7/1/07 (The $271 posted on the highway is old). Don't do it again because 2nd time is going to be double. 3rd time triple, and 4th time license suspended.

The minimum suggested fine for a carpool lane violation (i.e., driving solo in a carpool lane) has increased from $271 to $380 (not $1068.50). There is no provision for automatically increasing the fine or suspending licenses for subsequent violations.

2. Incorrect lane change - $380. Don't cross the lane on solid lines or intersections. The recommended fine for an unsafe turn or illegal lane change is $146, not $380. (Incidentally, according to the California Highway Patrol, "it is not illegal to change lanes in an intersection if it is safe to do.")

3. Block intersection - $485 The recommended fine for blocking an intersection (i.e., gridlock) is $190, not $485.

4. Driving on the shoulder - $450 The recommended fine for unsafe passing on the right shoulder is $146, not $450.

5. Cell phone use in the construction zone. - Double fine as of 07/01/07. Cell phone use must be "hands free" while driving. California law already allows for all traffic infraction fines to be doubled when an infraction
occurs in a construction zone. The law requiring that motorists who engage in phone calls while driving must use "hands-free" devices does not take effect until July 2008.

6. Passengers over 18 not in their seatbelts - both passengers and drivers get tickets. According to California law, any child under the age of 6 weighing less than 60 pounds must be secured in a federally approved child passenger restraint system and ride in the back seat of a vehicle. Children at least 6 years old but less than 16, and children under age 6 who weigh
more than 60 pounds, must be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system or safety belt which meets federal safety standards. The driver and all other passengers must be restrained by safety belts. If a passenger under the age of 16 is not restrained with a proper safety belt, a citation may be issued to the vehicle's driver or the child's parent or guardian (if present). If a passenger 16 or older is not restrained with a proper safety belt, the driver and/or the passenger may be cited.

7. Speeders can only drive 3 miles above the limit. Drivers in California can be cited for speeding for driving at any rate (even just 1 MPH) over the
maximum posted speed limit (and even for driving under the maximum posted speed limit, if current road conditions make that speed unsafe). Although police may not typically cite motorists until they exceed posted speed limits by a certain amount (e.g., 3-7 MPH), no state law sets a minimum amount of excess speed required for citation issuance.

8. DUI = JAIL (Stays on your driving record for 10 years!) Being taken into custody and brought to a police station (and spending a few hours in jail) is the typical experience for a motorist who is found to have a blood alcohol content over the state limit (or who refuses to take a sobriety test). Whether a DUI offender will be sentenced to additional jail time depends upon a number of factors (e.g., severity of the offense, previous
driving record). Calfornia law does not currently mandate jail time for a first DUI offense. (Hefty fines, temporary license suspension, community service, and mandatory DUI class attendance are common penalties for first-time offenders.)

9. As of 07/01/07 cell phone use must be "hands free" while driving. Ticket is $285. They will be looking for this like crazy - easy money for police department. As noted above, the law requiring that motorists who enage in phone calls while driving must use "hands-free" devices does not take effect until July 2008 and calls for "a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense." Last updated: 22 June 2007

[Meiac09]

hahaha. "only three MPH" haha