New California Laws Pass in 2017: Part 1

ALL>> A total of 898 laws went into effect in California at the start of the New Year, ranging from cellphone use to human trafficking. These laws can affect the citizens of California in different ways, and some of the laws will have a major impact on the citizens of California. Cellphones use while driving: Californians are no longer allowed to use a handheld wireless phone or electronic device while driving. The only exception is if the device is mounted on the windshield or dashboard of the vehicle that does not block the driver’s view of the road. Motorcycle Lane Splitting: The new law defines lane splitting as driving a two-wheeled motorcycle between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane. The law allows highway patrol to create an educational guideline to ensure the safety of motorcyclists, drivers and passengers. Vehicle Registration Fee: SB 838 has increased the vehicle registration fee on every vehicle or trailer coach from $43 to $53 beginning Saturday, Apr. 1. Minimum Wage: The minimum wage will increase from $10 an hour to $10.50 an hour for businesses with 26 or more employees under SB 3. It is scheduled to increase to $15 an hour in the year 2022 the law, however, delays the increase by one year for smaller businesses. Assault Weapons: Voters passed a law that requires all Californians who own a gun magazine with more than 10 rounds to be surrendered to law enforcement or destroyed starting on Saturday, July 1. Those who want to purchase guns must go through a background check before buying ammunition and be barred from purchasing guns with bullet buttons. Sexual Assault Clarification: Sexually assaulting an unconscious or severely intoxicated person will become a crime ineligible for probation. This change in law was created after the infamous Brock Turner case, where Turner was given six months in jail and released early for assaulting an unconscious woman. These are just a few of the laws that will be affecting California , if you want to learn more about these laws check out http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billSearchClient.xhtml