Two California laws will take effect January 1, 2019 that are applicable to motorists:
- Any car bought or leased and driven off a car dealership lot must have temporary license plates. Dealers will be required to place temporary tags on cars, instead of paper advertisements. Drivers caught using temporary tags assigned to other cars, or who manufacture a temporary license plate, will face felony charges.
- Entering a vehicle with the intent to commit a theft, whether or not the vehicle was locked or unlocked, becomes a crime punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year or imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years. Prior law required the vehicle to be locked before the entering was considered a misdemeanor.
- Motorists should also be aware of Assembly Bill 47 that is presently under consideration by the California Legislature. If passed, motorists caught using their telephones after January 1, 2021 will get one point assessed against their licenses.
The information presented is not intended to be, and does not constitute, “legal advice.” Because each situation varies, and only brief summary information is provided here, you should not use this information as a basis for action unless you have independently verified with your own counsel that it applies to your particular situation.
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