California Assembly Bill AB348 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 348AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 25, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Buchanan (Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonilla) (  Coauthor:   Senator   DeSaulnier   Coauthors:   Senators   DeSaulnier   and Hancock  ) FEBRUARY 10, 2011 An act to add and repeal Section 97.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to highways. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 348, as amended, Buchanan. Highways: Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone. Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to designate a state highway segment as a Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone if specified conditions are met, including that the governing board of the city or county in which the segment is located has by resolution indicated that it supports the designation. This bill would, notwithstanding these requirements and until January 1, 2017, designate the segment of county highway known as Vasco Road, between the State Highway Route 580 junction in Alameda County and the Walnut Boulevard intersection in Contra Costa County, as a Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone upon the approval of the boards of supervisors of Alameda County and Contra Costa County. The bill would also impose specified duties on the  department and  local governing bodies regarding that double fine zone. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  yes   no  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 97.4 is added to the Streets and Highways Code, to read: 97.4. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 97, the segment of county highway known as Vasco Road, between the State Highway Route 580 junction in Alameda County and the Walnut Boulevard intersection in Contra Costa County, shall be designated as the Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone upon the approval of resolutions of the Alameda County and Contra Costa County boards of supervisors supporting that designation. (b) Each local governing body in whose jurisdiction a double fine zone is designated by this section shall, prior to the establishment of a double fine zone, do all of the following: (1) Undertake a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the double fine zone designation, where it is located, its purpose, and its consequences. (2) Where appropriate, implement increased traffic safety enhancements, enforcement, and other roadway safety measures in coordination with the establishment of the double fine zone. (c) The Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone is subject to the rules and regulations adopted by the department prescribing uniform standards for warning signs to notify motorists that, pursuant to Section 42010 of the Vehicle Code, increased penalties apply for traffic violations that are committed within a Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone as authorized under Section 97. (d) The  department or the  local authority having jurisdiction over the Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone shall place and maintain the warning signs identifying these segments by stating that a "Special Safety Zone Region Begins Here" and a "Special Safety Zone Ends Here."  The department shall adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone under this section.  (e) The Vasco Road Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone does not increase the civil liability of the state or local authority having jurisdiction over the highway segment under Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code or any other law relating to civil liability. (f) (1) Only the base fine shall be enhanced pursuant to this section. (2) Notwithstanding any other law, any additional penalty, forfeiture, or assessment imposed by any other statute shall be based on the amount of the base fine before enhancement or doubling and shall not be based on the amount of the enhanced fine imposed pursuant to this section. (g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.