New laws target drunk drivers, teenagers and pocket bikes
By Brett Rowland
Morgan Hill – More than 700 new driving laws went into effect Sunday, including new restrictions for teen drivers, protections for car buyers and stiffer penalties for drunk drivers, according to AAA of Northern California.
Under the newly-instated laws, teenagers with provisional licenses will have a new curfew, drunk drivers could have their cars impounded and car buyers will have a new bill of rights in July. Other new laws prohibit the use of mini-motorcycles, often called pocket bikes, on public streets
A new addition to the 1997 Graduated Drivers Licensing law restricts teenagers with provisional licenses from carrying passengers under 18 without an adult over 25 present in the car for a period of one year instead of the six months required by the previous law, according to AAA. Another new law changes the nighttime curfew for teenager drivers from midnight to 11pm.
Sobrato High sophomore Austin Gavin, who turns 16 in February, said the curfew change likely wouldn’t affect him, though the passenger law would.
“I think it sucks because then me and my friends can’t go on a road trip or something if we want to, but I think they changed it for safety reasons,” Gavin said Monday. “I think it might be a little distracting to me to have my friends in the car. I think they changed it because there have been accidents with kids, and families of kids who were driving were blamed … But the curfew, I don’t know where i’m going to be going at 11pm, so it doesn’t matter to me.”
Another new law may force pocket bike owners to keep their toys in the garage. The law bans the use of the bikes on sidewalks, roads, highways, bicycle and horse paths and hiking trails. Use of the bikes will be restricted to private property and manufactures will be required to inform buyers of the new restrictions, according to AAA.
Additional legislation will focus on penalties for drunk drivers. Those caught driving with a .15 percent blood-alcohol level – nearly twice the .08 percent legal limit – could have their DUI fines and jail time doubled under the new law.
The previous blood-alcohol level for doubling fines was 0.20 percent, according to AAA. Those who have already been convicted of a DUI and are required by a court order to have a breathalyzer connected to the ignition system of their car will risk having their car impounded if caught driving without one. And under the new laws, those that blow a .10 percent or refuse to take a blood-alcohol level test can also have their car impounded.
