Bill Text: CA SB415 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Vehicles: trailers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2020-02-03 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB415 Detail]
Download: California-2019-SB415-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Senate
April 22, 2019 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
| Senate Bill | No. 415 |
| Introduced by Senator Grove |
February 20, 2019 |
An act to add Article 11 (commencing with Section 5370) to Chapter 1 of Division 3 of amend Section 12804.9 of, and to add Section 501 to, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 415, as amended, Grove.
Military and tactical vehicles: registration. Vehicles: trailers.
Existing law establishes various classes of driver’s licenses and various endorsements on those licenses that indicate the type of vehicle a person may lawfully operate.
Under existing law, a class C license authorizes a person to drive a 2-axle vehicle weighing no more than 26,000 pounds. Existing law also authorizes a person with a class C license to, as specified, tow a trailer, fifth-wheel travel trailer, as defined, or trailer coach weighing no more than 10,000 pounds, or, if the person has passed a written examination, a fifth-wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 pounds but not exceeding 15,000 pounds.
This bill would define the term “recreational trailer” as a vehicle that is designed to be towed by a motor vehicle and used for human habitation, to carry horses and other animals, to carry recreational equipment and off-highway vehicles, or some combination of these uses, for recreational purposes.
This bill would authorize a person with a class C license to, as specified, and not for compensation, tow a recreational trailer weighing no more than 10,000 pounds or, if the person has passed a written examination, a recreational trailer weighing more than 10,000 pounds but not exceeding 15,000 pounds.
Existing law establishes the Department of Motor Vehicles in the Transportation Agency and sets forth the powers and duties of the department, including with respect to the registration of vehicles. Under existing law, a vehicle is required to comply with specified standards imposed by the State Air Resources Board in order to be eligible for registration by the department.
This bill would require the department to establish a registration process for military and tactical vehicles, as defined, for on-highway use by local fire departments in the exercise of their official duties. The bill would require this process to be implemented by January 1, 2021. The bill would set forth minimum registration criteria for the military and tactical vehicles, including provision of a certificate of release from the federal government and payment of applicable
fees. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations to implement its requirements.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 501 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:501.
A “recreational trailer” is a vehicle designed to be towed by a motor vehicle and used for any of the following recreational purposes:(a) Transporting horses or other animals.
(b) Transporting recreational equipment, including off-highway motor vehicles, as defined in Section 38006.
(c) Human habitation.
(d) Any combination of these uses.
SEC. 2.
Section 12804.9 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:12804.9.
(a) (1) The examination shall include all of the following:(A) A test of the applicant’s knowledge and understanding of the provisions of this code governing the operation of vehicles upon the highways.
(B) A test of the applicant’s ability to read and understand simple English used in highway traffic and directional signs.
(C) A test of the applicant’s understanding of traffic signs and signals, including the bikeway signs, markers, and traffic control devices established by the Department of Transportation.
(D) An actual demonstration of the
applicant’s ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in operating a motor vehicle by driving it under the supervision of an examining officer. The applicant shall submit to an examination appropriate to the type of motor vehicle or combination of vehicles he or she that the applicant desires a license to drive, except that the department may waive the driving test part of the examination for any applicant who submits a license issued by another state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico if the department verifies through any acknowledged national driver record data source that there are no stops, holds, or other impediments to its issuance. The examining officer may request to see evidence of financial responsibility for the vehicle prior
to supervising the demonstration of the applicant’s ability to operate the vehicle. The examining officer may refuse to examine an applicant who is unable to provide proof of financial responsibility for the vehicle, unless proof of financial responsibility is not required by this code.
(E) A test of the hearing and eyesight of the applicant, and of other matters that may be necessary to determine the applicant’s mental and physical fitness to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways, and whether any grounds exist for refusal of a license under this code.
(2) (A) Before a class A or class B driver’s license, or class C driver’s license with a commercial endorsement, may be issued or renewed, the applicant shall have in his or her
their driver record a valid report of a medical examination of the applicant given not more than two years prior to the date of the application by a health care professional. As used in this paragraph, “health care professional” means a person who is licensed, certified, or registered in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations to practice medicine and perform physical examinations in the United States. Health care professionals are doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physician assistants, and registered advanced practice nurses, or doctors of chiropractic who are clinically competent to perform the medical examination presently required of motor carrier drivers by the United States Department of Transportation. The report shall be on a form approved by the department. In establishing the requirements, consideration may be given to the standards presently required of motor carrier drivers by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
(B) The department may accept a federal waiver of one or more physical qualification standards if the waiver is accompanied by a report of a nonqualifying medical examination for a class A or class B driver’s license, or class C driver’s license with a commercial endorsement, pursuant to Section 391.41(a)(3)(ii) of Subpart E of Part 391 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(3) A physical defect of the applicant that, in the opinion of the department, is compensated for to ensure safe driving ability, shall not prevent the issuance of a license to the applicant.
(b) In accordance with the following classifications, an applicant for a driver’s license shall be required to submit to an examination appropriate to the type of motor vehicle or combination of vehicles the applicant desires a license to drive:
(1) Class A includes the following:
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (H) of paragraph (3), a combination of vehicles, if a vehicle being towed has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds.
(B) A vehicle towing more than one vehicle.
(C) A trailer bus.
(D) The operation of all vehicles under class B and class C.
(2) Class B includes the following:
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (H) of paragraph (3), a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds.
(B) A single vehicle with three or more axles, except any three-axle vehicle weighing less than 6,000 pounds.
(C) A bus with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds, except a trailer bus.
(D) A farm labor vehicle.
(E) A single vehicle with three or more axles or a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds towing another vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less.
(F) A house car over 40 feet in length, excluding safety devices and safety bumpers.
(G) The operation of all vehicles covered under class
C.
(3) Class C includes the following:
(A) A two-axle vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less, including when the vehicle is towing a trailer or semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a two-axle vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds or more unladen when towing a trailer coach not exceeding 9,000 pounds gross.
(C) A house car of 40 feet in length or less.
(D) A three-axle vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds gross or less.
(E) A house car of 40 feet in length or less or a vehicle towing another
vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, including when a tow dolly is used. A person driving a vehicle may not tow another vehicle in violation of Section 21715.
(F) (i) A two-axle vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds or more unladen when towing either a trailer coach
coach, recreational trailer, or a fifth-wheel travel trailer not exceeding 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, when the towing of the trailer is not for compensation.
(ii) A two-axle vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds or more unladen when towing a recreational trailer or fifth-wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 pounds, but not exceeding 15,000 pounds, gross vehicle weight rating, when the towing of the trailer is not for compensation, and if the person has passed a specialized written examination provided by the department relating to the knowledge of this code and other safety aspects governing the towing of recreational vehicles upon the highway.
The authority to operate combinations of vehicles under this subparagraph may be granted by
endorsement on a class C license upon completion of that written examination.
(G) A vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating or a gross vehicle weight rating, as those terms are defined in subdivisions (j) and (k), respectively, of Section 15210, of 26,000 pounds or less, if all of the following conditions are met:
(i) Is operated by a farmer, an employee of a farmer, or an instructor credentialed in agriculture as part of an instructional program in agriculture at the high school, community college, or university level.
(ii) Is used exclusively in the conduct of agricultural operations.
(iii) Is not used in the capacity of a for-hire carrier or for compensation.
(H) Firefighting equipment, provided that the equipment is operated by a person who holds a firefighter endorsement pursuant to Section 12804.11.
(I) A motorized scooter.
(J) A bus with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less, except a trailer bus.
(K) Class C does not include a two-wheel motorcycle or a two-wheel motor-driven cycle.
(4) Class M1. A two-wheel motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle. Authority to operate a vehicle included in a class M1 license may be granted by endorsement on a class A, B, or C license upon completion of an appropriate examination.
(5) (A) Class M2 includes the following:
(i) A motorized bicycle or moped, or a bicycle with an attached motor, except an electric bicycle as described in subdivision (a) of Section 312.5.
(ii) A motorized scooter.
(B) Authority to operate vehicles included in class M2 may be granted by endorsement on a class A, B, or C license upon completion of an appropriate examination, except that no endorsement is required for a motorized scooter. Persons holding a class M1 license or endorsement may operate vehicles included in class M2 without further examination.
(c) A driver’s license or driver certificate is not valid for operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 15210, any other motor vehicle defined in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b), or any other vehicle
requiring a driver to hold any driver certificate or any driver’s license endorsement under Section 15275, unless a medical certificate approved by the department that has been issued within two years of the date of the operation of that vehicle and a copy of the medical examination report from which the certificate was issued is on file with the department. Otherwise, the license is valid only for operating class C vehicles that are not commercial vehicles, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 15210, and for operating class M1 or M2 vehicles, if so endorsed, that are not commercial vehicles, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 15210.
(d) A license or driver certificate issued prior to the enactment of Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 15200) is valid to operate the class or type of vehicles specified under the law in existence prior to that enactment until the license or certificate expires or is otherwise suspended, revoked, or
canceled. Upon application for renewal or replacement of a driver’s license, endorsement, or certificate required to operate a commercial motor vehicle, a valid medical certificate on a form approved by the department shall be submitted to the department.
(e) The department may accept a certificate of driving skill that is issued by an employer, authorized by the department to issue a certificate under Section 15250, of the applicant, in lieu of a driving test, on class A or B applications, if the applicant has first qualified for a class C license and has met the other examination requirements for the license for which he or she is they are applying. The certificate may be submitted as evidence of the applicant’s skill in the operation of the types of
equipment covered by the license for which he or she is they are applying.
(f) The department may accept a certificate of competence in lieu of a driving test on class M1 or M2 applications, when the certificate is issued by a law enforcement agency for its officers who operate class M1 or M2 vehicles in their duties, if the applicant has met the other examination requirements for the license for which he or she is they are applying.
(g) The department may accept a certificate of satisfactory completion
of a motorcyclist training program approved by the commissioner pursuant to Section 2932 in lieu of a driving test on class M1 or M2 applications, if the applicant has met the other examination requirements for the license for which he or she is they are applying. The department shall review and approve the written and driving test used by a program to determine whether the program may issue a certificate of completion.
(h) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a person holding a valid California driver’s license of any class may operate a short-term rental motorized bicycle without taking any special examination for the operation of a motorized bicycle, and without having a class M2 endorsement on that license. As used in this subdivision, “short-term” means
48 hours or less.
(i) A person under 21 years of age shall not be issued a class M1 or M2 license or endorsement unless he or she the person provides evidence satisfactory to the department of completion of a novice motorcycle safety training program that is operated pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 2930) of Chapter 5 of Division 2.
(j) A driver of a vanpool vehicle may operate with a class C license but shall possess evidence of a medical examination required for a class B license when operating vanpool vehicles. In order to be eligible to drive the vanpool vehicle, the driver shall keep in the vanpool vehicle a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that he or she has
they have not been convicted of reckless driving, drunk driving, or a hit-and-run offense in the last five years.
(a)The department shall establish a registration procedure for military and tactical vehicles for on-highway use. A vehicle subject to this article shall be registered only to a local fire department for use in the exercise of its official duties. The registration procedure shall be implemented by January 1, 2021.
(b)The following definitions apply for purposes of this article:
(1)“Military vehicle” means a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee) with a valid United States Government Certificate to Obtain Title to a Vehicle form.
(2)“Tactical vehicle” means a military vehicle that has a
Defense Logistics Agency Certificate to Register a Tactical Vehicle form from the United States Department of Defense.
(c)At a minimum, registration criteria for a vehicle subject to this section shall require the following:
(1)A completed application for title or registration.
(2)A vehicle verification in the form prescribed by the department.
(3)A certificate of release of motor vehicle from the federal government and any bills of sale needed to establish a complete chain of ownership to the applicant.
(4)Odometer mileage disclosure on a vehicle/vessel transfer and reassignment in the form prescribed by the department, if applicable.
(5)A report of sale for a used vehicle, if sold by a California dealer.
(6)Smog certification, if appropriate.
(7)Payment of applicable fees.
(8)Any other requirement deemed necessary by the department to achieve the objectives of this article.
The department shall adopt regulations and procedures necessary to implement this article.
