New California Laws for 2024: Speed Cameras, Lowriders, Electric Bicycles

Jan 2, 2024

With the start of 2024, new California laws are in place which may affect motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. In the sections below, we will provide details on recent California legislation which went into effect as of January 1.

New California Laws for 2024 Explained

Every year, California passes a number of new laws – many of which don’t impact residents on a day-to-day basis. The following 2024 California laws have been identified as important to understand for California residents, as they may impact you directly as either a motorist, bicyclist, or pedestrian.

New 2024 California Laws Passed That May Impact You

• AB 641: The new law is intended to curb catalytic converter theft. California AB 641 makes it a misdemeanor for anyone other than a “licensed automobile dismantler” to have nine or more used catalytic converters which were removed from vehicles in their possession. Law enforcement may charge offenders with illegal automobile dismantling, and misdemeanor fines can range from $250 to $1,000 per offense.
• AB 436: The new law repeals an old law which the California State Legislature approved in 1982, allowing cities to ban lowriding and cruising. California AB 436 now prohibits local governments from enacting bans on lowriding and enforcing anti-cruising ordinances (including those disallowing owners of lowriders from driving on public streets).
• SB 381: In an effort to improve bicycle safety in California, SB 381 allows researchers at San Jose State University’s Mineta Transportation Institute to analyze important data related to rider injuries, crashes, emergency room visits, and fatalities. The research will include data on accidents related to riders who operate electric and non-electric bicycles.
• AB 413: The new law prohibits California drivers from parking their cars, trucks, and motorcycles within 20 feet of the vehicle-approach side of a crosswalk. California AB 413 was passed in an effort to reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths. Accordingly, parked cars are no longer allowed to be in such close proximity to areas where pedestrians frequently cross the street. However, AB 413 does allow local authorities to permit commercial vehicles to load or unload within 20 feet of a crosswalk (but such an exception will require the use of signs or paint to indicate a commercial vehicle’s use of a loading zone).
• AB 645: The new law authorizes various California cities – Glendale, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, and Long Beach – to install speed cameras in school zones, “high-injury networks,” and areas that are commonly impacted by illegal street racing. Freeways and expressways are exempt from the California AB 645 speed camera law, and drivers will receive a warning for their first offense. Thereafter, speed camera offenses will result in $50 fines for drivers traveling 11-15 miles per hour over the posted limit and $500 for drivers traveling 100 miles per hour over the limit.

Steps to Take if You’ve Been Injured as a California Driver, Pedestrian, or Bicyclist

When an injury occurs due to someone’s negligence, victims of car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents may be entitled to financial compensation (damages) by filing a civil claim with Dordulian Law Group (DLG).

The first and most important step to take after being injured in an accident is seeking medical treatment – a full examination by a licensed physician. Once your health and well-being have been addressed, it’s recommended that you take photos and videos of your injuries, gather any witness statements and take down their contact info, gather contact info for any at-fault parties, and call an experienced personal injury attorney to arrange for a free consultation.

Do I Need to Hire a California Personal Injury Lawyer?

It can be beneficial to hire a private attorney after an injury from any type of traffic accident – as a driver/motorist, bicyclist, or pedestrian. After a motor vehicle or other traffic accident in which you were not at fault, it’s critical to take the steps required to protect your right to maximum financial compensation which may be available through a civil lawsuit or claim. When injured victims of traffic accidents hire private attorneys, their compensation is higher.

In fact, a recent study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) revealed that injured victims who have private legal representation receive settlements that are 40% higher. Moreover, the average insurance payouts for these cases tends to be 3.5x greater when compared those claims involving injured victims who choose to represent themselves. And plaintiffs who hire private legal representation like the kind we provide at Dordulian Law Group also receive 85% of the total amount that insurance companies pay out in bodily injury claims each year.

Contact DLG for a Free California Personal Injury Attorney Consultation

Dordulian Law Group’s team of skilled and experienced Glendale, California, personal injury & car accident lawyers have been fighting for and obtaining justice on behalf of injured victims for over 25 years. We’ve secured more than $200 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients, and we’re available 24/7 to discuss your case.

With DLG, there’s never any upfront fee or out-of-pocket expenses to worry about when filing a claim for financial compensation after a car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, pedestrian, or bicycle accident injury. We never charge injured victims like you anything until after we’ve successfully recovered a financial damages award for your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay – it’s that simple.

Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.

Contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM for a free and confidential personal injury & motor vehicle crash attorney consultation.