BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The new year is just two days away and with it comes a new set of safety laws that will go into effect Jan. 1 in the Golden State.
Retail crime has been on a steady incline not just in the state, but especially in Kern County.
Organized Retail Theft:
- Senate Bill 982: Strengthens measures to address organized retail crimes.
- Senate Bill 1416: Combats organized retail crimes by increasing penalties for those involved in the resale of stolen goods, also known as “fencing.”
- Assembly Bill 2943, a.k.a. the ‘California Retail Theft Reduction Act’: Creates a specific crime for serial retail theft, and allows property value for thefts committed within 90 days to be combined to qualify as grand theft.
It also authorizes law businesses from lawsuits for reporting crimes and promotes rehabilitation through diversion programs for offenders younger than 18.
- Prop 36: Over 70% of voters statewide voted yes on Prop 36 during the November elections and went into effect Dec. 18. The measure increases penalties for retail theft and certain drug offenses related to fentanyl.
The Kern County District Attorney’s office filed its first felony case under Prop 36 a day after it went into effect, but the new law also brings up a slew of new problems for Kern County, according to Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
Reckless Driving
There’s also multiple new laws that will tackle reckless driving.
- Assembly Bill 1978: Allows storing a vehicle when a person is arrested but not taken into custody for obstructing or placing a barricade on a highway or off-street parking facility for purposes of aiding a speed contest.
- Assembly Bill 2186: Permits the arrest and custody of people engaged in an exhibition of speed in an off-street parking facility. Under this law, law enforcement can also impound your vehicle for up to 30 days.
- Assembly Bill 2678: Vehicles with Clean Air Vehicle stickers can now drive in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, if federal law permits.
- Assembly Bill 2111: Prohibits any alteration of a license plate’s reflective coating to avoid detection from any entity, not just law enforcement.
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