BILL NUMBER: SB 1362	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 2, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 30, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 25, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 11, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 23, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Simitian
   (Coauthors: Senators Ashburn and Huff)
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Hill)

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act to amend Sections 21455.5 and 40518 of the Vehicle Code,
relating to vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1362, as amended, Simitian. Vehicles: automated traffic
enforcement systems.
   (1) Existing law authorizes the limit line, intersection, or other
places where a driver is required to stop to be equipped with an
automated enforcement system, as defined, if the system meets certain
requirements. Existing law authorizes a governmental agency to
contract out the operation of the system under certain circumstances,
except for specified activities, that include, among other things,
establishing guidelines for selection of location. A violation of the
Vehicle Code is a crime.
   This bill would require that  , no later than January 1, 2012,
 those requirements include identifying the system by signs
posted  at each   within 200 feet of an 
intersection where a system is operating. The bill would require the
governmental agency to adopt a finding of fact establishing the need
for the system at a specific location for reasons related to safety
 for those systems installed after January 1, 2011  .
   The bill would  prohibit   require, if 
an employee, agent, or representative of the governmental agency or
of a law enforcement agency  from contacting  
contacts  the registered owner of a vehicle prior to issuing a
notice to appear  , either directly or indirectly, 
in an effort to determine the identity of  an alleged
automated traffic enforcement system violator without making
 the driver,  the registered owner  to 
 be made  aware, in a clear and prominent fashion, that the
registered owner is not required to provide that information and that
failure to provide that information  shall not result in any
adverse action or relieve the registered owner or alleged automated
traffic enforcement system violator of any   will not
result in additional  responsibility or liability associated
with the alleged violation.
   The bill would prohibit a governmental agency that 
operates   proposes to install or  an automated
traffic enforcement system from considering revenue generation,
beyond recovering its actual costs of operating the system, as a
factor when considering whether or not to  install or 
operate a system within its local jurisdiction. The bill would
require the manufacturer or supplier that operates an automated
traffic enforcement system, in cooperation with the governmental
agency, to submit an annual report to the Judicial Council that
includes specified information.
   (2) Existing law provides special written, mailed notice to appear
procedures in connection with certain alleged violations recorded by
an automated traffic enforcement system and provides that whenever a
written notice to appear has been issued by a peace officer or by a
qualified employee of a law enforcement agency on a form approved by
the Judicial Council for an alleged traffic violation recorded by an
automated traffic enforcement system, and delivered by mail within 15
days of the alleged violation to the current address of the
registered owner of the vehicle on file with the Department of Motor
Vehicles, with a certificate of mailing obtained as evidence of
service, an exact and legible duplicate copy of the notice when filed
with the magistrate constitutes a complaint to which the defendant
may enter a plea.
   This bill would expand the information that must be included on a
notice to appear. The bill would authorize the mailing of a specified
courtesy notice or any other notice other than a notice to appear by
the issuing agency to the registered owner or the alleged violator
prior to issuing a notice to appear that is required to contain
specified information. The bill would prohibit a manufacturer or
supplier of an automated traffic enforcement system or the
governmental agency operating the system from altering the notice to
appear or any other form approved by the Judicial Council. If a form
is found to have been materially altered, the bill would authorize
that the citation, based on the altered form, be dismissed. The bill
would also require that the citation be dismissed if a magistrate or
judge makes a finding that there are grounds for dismissal, in
certain circumstances.
   (3) Because it is unlawful and constitutes an infraction for any
person to violate, or fail to comply with any provision of the
Vehicle Code, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
   (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 21455.5 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

   21455.5.  (a) The limit line, the intersection, or a place
designated in Section 21455, where a driver is required to stop, may
be equipped with an automated traffic enforcement system if the
governmental agency utilizing the system meets all of the following
requirements:
   (1)    Identifies   
 No later than January 1, 2012, identifies  the system by
signs posted  at each   within 200 feet of an
 intersection where a system is operating that clearly indicate
the system's presence and are visible to traffic approaching from all
directions in which the automated traffic enforcement system is
being utilized to issue citations. A governmental agency utilizing
such a system does not need to post signs visible to traffic
approaching the intersection from directions not subject to an
 automated traffic enforcement  system  .
   (2) If it locates the system at an intersection, and ensures that
the system meets the criteria specified in Section 21455.7.
   (b) Prior to issuing citations under this section, a local
jurisdiction utilizing an automated traffic enforcement system shall
commence a program to issue only warning notices for 30 days. The
local jurisdiction shall also make a public announcement of the
automated traffic enforcement system at least 30 days prior to the
commencement of the enforcement program.
   (c) Only a governmental agency, in cooperation with a law
enforcement agency, may operate an automated traffic enforcement
system. A governmental agency that operates an automated traffic
enforcement system shall do all of the following:
   (1) Develop uniform guidelines for screening and issuing
violations and for the processing and storage of confidential
information, and establish procedures to ensure compliance with those
guidelines.
   (2) Perform administrative functions and day-to-day functions,
including, but not limited to, all of the following:
   (A) Establishing guidelines for selection of location. Prior to
installing an automated traffic enforcement system  after January
1, 2011  , the government agency shall make and adopt a finding
of fact establishing that the system is needed at a specific
location for reasons related to safety.
   (B) Ensuring that the equipment is regularly inspected.
   (C) Certifying that the equipment is properly installed and
calibrated, and is operating properly.
   (D) Regularly inspecting and maintaining warning signs placed
under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
   (E) Overseeing the establishment or change of signal phases and
the timing thereof.
   (F) Maintaining controls necessary to ensure that only those
citations that have been reviewed and approved by law enforcement are
delivered to  actual  violators.  An
employee, agent, or representative of the governmental agency or of
the law enforcement agency shall not contact the registered owner of
a vehicle prior to issuing a notice to appear either directly or
indirectly in an effort to determine the identity of an alleged
automated traffic enforcement system violator without making the
registered owner aware, in a clear and prominent fashion, that the
registered owner is not required to provide that information and that
failure to provide that information shall not result in any adverse
action or relieve the registered owner or alleged automated traffic
enforcement system violator of any responsibility or liability
associated with the alleged violation. 
   (d) The activities listed in subdivision (c) that relate to the
operation of the system may be contracted out by the governmental
agency, if it maintains overall control and supervision of the
system. However, the activities listed in paragraph (1) of, and
subparagraphs (A), (D), (E), and (F) of paragraph (2) of, subdivision
(c) may not be contracted out to the manufacturer or supplier of the
automated traffic enforcement system.
   (e) (1) Notwithstanding Section 6253 of the Government Code, or
any other provision of law, photographic records made by an automated
traffic enforcement system shall be confidential, and shall be made
available only to governmental agencies and law enforcement agencies
and only for the purposes of this article.
   (2) Confidential information obtained from the Department of Motor
Vehicles for the administration or enforcement of this article shall
be held confidential, and may not be used for any other purpose.
   (3) Except for court records described in Section 68152 of the
Government Code, the confidential records and information described
in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be retained for up to six months from
the date the information was first obtained, or until final
disposition of the citation, whichever date is later, after which
time the information shall be destroyed in a manner that will
preserve the confidentiality of any person included in the record or
information.
   (f) Notwithstanding subdivision  (d)  (e)
 , the registered owner or any individual identified by the
registered owner as the driver of the vehicle at the time of the
alleged violation shall be permitted to review the photographic
evidence of the alleged violation.
   (g) (1) A contract between a governmental agency and a
manufacturer or supplier of automated traffic enforcement equipment
may not include provision for the payment or compensation to the
manufacturer or supplier based on the number of citations generated,
or as a percentage of the revenue generated, as a result of the use
of the equipment authorized under this section.
   (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a contract that was entered
into by a governmental agency and a manufacturer or supplier of
automated traffic enforcement equipment before January 1, 2004,
unless that contract is renewed, extended, or amended on or after
January 1, 2004.
   (3) A governmental agency that  operates  
proposes to install or operate  an automated traffic enforcement
system shall not consider revenue generation, beyond recovering its
actual costs of operating the system, as a factor when considering
whether or not to  install or  operate a system within its
local jurisdiction.
   (h) A manufacturer or supplier that operates an automated traffic
enforcement system pursuant to this section shall, in cooperation
with the governmental agency, submit an annual report to the Judicial
Council that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following
information  if this information is in the possession of, or
readily available to, the manufacturer or supplier  :
   (1) The number of alleged violations captured by the systems they
operate.
   (2) The number of citations issued by a law enforcement agency
based on information collected from the automated traffic enforcement
system.
   (3) The number of citations issued for each type of violation.
   (4) The number and percentage of citations that are paid in full.
   (5) The number of traffic collisions at each intersection that
have occurred prior to, and after the installation of, the automated
traffic enforcement system.
  SEC. 2.  Section 40518 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   40518.  (a) Whenever a written notice to appear has been issued by
a peace officer or by a qualified employee of a law enforcement
agency on a form approved by the Judicial Council for an alleged
violation of Section 22451, or, based on an alleged violation of
Section 21453, 21455, or 22101 recorded by an automated traffic
enforcement system pursuant to Section 21455.5 or 22451, and
delivered by mail within 15 days of the alleged violation to the
current address of the registered owner of the vehicle on file with
the department, with a certificate of mailing obtained as evidence of
service, an exact and legible duplicate copy of the notice when
filed with the magistrate shall constitute a complaint to which the
defendant may enter a plea. Preparation and delivery of a notice to
appear pursuant to this section is not an arrest.
   (b) (1) A notice to appear shall contain the name and address of
the person, the license plate number of the person's vehicle, the
violation charged, including a description of the offense, and the
time and place when, and where, the person may appear in court or
before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail. The time
specified shall be at least 10 days after the notice to appear is
delivered. If, after the notice to appear has been issued, the citing
peace officer or qualified employee of a law enforcement agency
determines that, in the interest of justice, the citation or notice
should be dismissed, the citing agency may recommend, in writing, to
the magistrate or the judge that the case be dismissed. The
recommendation shall cite the reasons for the recommendation and be
filed with the court. If the magistrate or judge makes a finding that
there are grounds for dismissal, the finding shall be entered on the
record and the infraction dismissed.
   (2) A notice to appear shall also contain all of the following
information:
   (A) The methods by which the registered owner of the vehicle or
the alleged violator may view and discuss with the issuing agency,
both by telephone and in person, the evidence used to substantiate
the violation.
   (B) The contact information of the issuing agency.
   (C) Information provided by the manufacturer or supplier of the
automated traffic enforcement system or the governmental agency with
which it contracts that clearly and conspicuously identifies the
manufacturer or supplier of the system.
   (c) This section and Section 40520 do not preclude the issuing
agency from mailing a courtesy notice or any other notice other than
a notice to appear to the registered owner of the vehicle or the
alleged violator prior to issuing a notice to appear. The courtesy
notice or other notice other than a notice to appear shall be  ,
no later than January 1, 2012,  on a form approved by the
Judicial Council  , in consultation with the traffic and
transportation committee of the California Police Chiefs Association,
 and shall contain all of the following information:
   (1) The methods by which the registered owner of the vehicle or
the alleged violator may view and discuss with the issuing agency,
both by telephone and in person, the evidence used to substantiate
the violation.
   (2) The contact information of the issuing agency.
   (3) Information provided by the manufacturer or supplier of the
automated traffic enforcement system or the governmental agency with
which it contracts that clearly and conspicuously identifies the
manufacturer or supplier of the system.
   (d) A manufacturer or supplier of an automated traffic enforcement
system or the governmental agency operating the system shall not
alter the notice to appear or any other form approved by the Judicial
Council. If a form is found to have been materially altered, the
citation based on the altered form may be dismissed. 
   (e) If an employee, agent, or representative of the governmental
agency or law enforcement agency contacts the registered owner of a
vehicle prior to issuing a notice to appear in an effort to determine
the identity of the driver, the registered owner shall be made
aware, in a clear and prominent fashion, that the registered owner is
not required to provide the information and that failure to provide
the information will not result in additional responsibility or
liability associated with the alleged violation. 
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.