California Senate Bill SB878 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 878INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator DeSaulnier FEBRUARY 18, 2011 An act to amend Section 24409 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 878, as introduced, DeSaulnier. Vehicles: headlights: use of multiple beams. (1) Existing law requires, whenever a motor vehicle is being operated during darkness, a driver to use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the specified requirements and limitations. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would revise these specified requirements and limitations to prohibit the use of light of such an intensity that it poses a distraction to drivers of oncoming vehicles and to drivers of vehicles being followed. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) 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 24409 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 24409. Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated during darkness, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations: (a) Whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet,  he   the driver  shall use a distribution of light or composite beam so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver  and shall not use a light of such intensity that it poses a distraction to drivers of oncoming vehicles  .  The lowermost distribution of light specified in this article shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times regardless of road contour.   The lowermost distribution of light specified in this article shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times regardless of road contour.  (b) Whenever the driver of a vehicle follows another vehicle within 300 feet to the rear, he shall use the lowermost distribution of light specified in this article  and shall ensure that  it is not of such an intensity as to pose a distraction to the driver of the vehicle being followed  . SEC. 2. 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.