For Californians, January 1st doesn’t just signify the New Year. It means a slew of new laws have just gone into effect. New laws that most drivers are completely unfamiliar with or have no idea even exist.
In 2018, new laws around concealed weapons, an increase in minimum wage and the legal sale of recreational marijuana went into effect. Some of these things have had a significant impact on California vehicles and transportation laws.
If you’re a California driver, check out our list of 2018 laws you should be aware of because they are still around, and they’re still new enough for people to easily forget.
Gender Identity (SB 179, Atkins)
Starting in September 2018, gender identity is no longer required on government documents. This means that people who identify as transgender, intersex or nonconforming can choose a simple gender-neutral option on their birth certificate.This change goes into effect for driver’s licenses in 2019.
Others, including police officers, cannot harass someone because their license has the gender-neutral option. But the same rules apply for having your drivers license on you at all times when you’re behind the wheel. Driving without a license will still get you a citation. You’ll have to pay a small fee to prove you have a license and get the ticket corrected.
Registration and Renewal Fees (SB 1, Beall)
Owners of gasoline or diesel-fueled cars must pay a fee called the Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), which will go towards road maintenance and rehabilitation. The fee ranges from $25 to $175, and will depend on the vehicle’s current value.
Failing to pay the TIF means you failed to pay your registration or renewal fee. The $25-$175 TIF is included in the registration and renewal costs. If you get caught driving with an expired registration it’s a $25 fine plus a $125-$225 penalty.
Marijuana Usage (SB 65, Hill)
As of January 2018, recreational marijuana is legal under certain limitations for people who are 25 and older. Although you can legally consume it in general, you can be ticketed for smoking or consuming marijuana in any way while driving or riding in a car on California roadways. It needs to stay completely packaged and wrapped up until you get where you’re going.
Needless to say, anyone who consumes marijuana and then drives impaired is guilty of a DUI. It’s a serious offense even for first-time offenders. The penalties for the first DUI conviction in California can include license suspension for 4+ months, 3-9 months of DUI school, fines between $1,500-$2,000 and misdemeanor probation for 3-5 years.
If you’re over 25 and decide to consume marijuana the better, cheaper and safer option is to call an Uber or Lyft to take you where you need to go.
Drinking and Driving (AB 2687, Achadjian)
Starting in July 2018, rideshare drivers can be cited for driving under the influence if they have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .04 percent or more. This is the same threshold that’s used for other commercial drivers. Because some commercial drivers operate large trucks and some commercial drivers are directly responsible for the health and safety of the people in their vehicle, any type of potential impairment is dangerous.
If a contract rideshare driver is stopped and has a BAC of .04 percent or more they will be charged with a DUI. The commercial driver penalties for the first DUI conviction can include suspension of your commercial drivers license for one year, mandatory DUI school and thousands in fines. There’s also no option to get a restricted CDL license.
Motorcycle Training Courses (AB 1027, Acosta)
This law lets the DMV accept a certificate of satisfactory completion of any motorcyclist-training program approved by the California Highway Patrol in lieu of the required motorcycle skills test.
However, applicants under 21 years old will still be required to complete a novice motorcyclist-training program. It’s kind of the same logic that’s used for getting a drivers license. It’s usually safest if younger drivers get a little extra training from professionals.
Buckle Up on Buses (SB 20, Hill)
Beginning July 1, you can be fined $20 for not wearing a seatbelt on a commercial bus. (So expect your drivers to start telling you to buckle up). This law also prohibits a parent, legal guardian or chartering party from transporting a child between the ages of 9 and 15 on a bus unless they are properly restrained by a safety belt or an appropriate child passenger restraint system that meets federal safety standards.
Rideshare Driving (SB 182, Bradford)
Drivers for rideshare companies only need a single permit to drive anywhere in California. This one doesn’t affect most drivers, but it is a huge change for rideshare drivers. Now you don’t have to worry about having a separate permit if you cross city or county lines during a ride. But that also means there’s no excuse for not having the sole state permit, which you can get ticketed for.
Accessibility (SB 611, Hill)
This law will attempt to crack down on misuse of disabled driver placards by:
Requiring applicants to provide proof of a true full name and birthdate.
Limiting the number of replacement disabled person parking placards an applicant can request without obtaining a medical certification to four in two years.
Requiring the DMV to establish a renewal process that requires applicants to return a renewal notice by mail every six years.
If you don’t follow those rules there’s no chance of getting a valid disabled person parking placard.
Parking Violations and Driver License Registration or Renewal (AB 503, Lackey)
This law makes changes to the requirement that prevents someone from obtaining or renewing their driver's license because of an unpaid parking ticket or fees by:
Creating a process for low-income Californians with outstanding parking violations to repay their fines and penalties before the parking violation is reported to the DMV.
Allowing the registered owner of a vehicle to file for Planned Non-Operation status when unpaid parking penalties are on the vehicle’s record.
Allowing anyone with outstanding parking penalties and fees to obtain or renew a drivers license.
Jaywalking (AB 390, Santiago)
You won’t be ticketed for stepping into a crosswalk after the flashing signal begins, provided that you can still cross safely before the time runs out. But anyone who is blatantly walking out in front of oncoming vehicles is in violation of the law, and for good reason. Stepping out in front of a moving vehicle is a serious safety risk for everyone on the road. Always be on the lookout for pedestrians that aren’t following crosswalk rules.
With 10 more driving-related laws on the books, you’ll want to drive more carefully than ever. If you do unknowingly or accidentally make a moving violation and get a ticket it’s probably not a dire situation. California traffic school may be an option. Going to traffic school can help you mask the citation, keep points off your driving record and get an auto insurance discount.
Check to see if your moving violation can be corrected in our online traffic school!
*This article was updated on 05/24/23.