BILL NUMBER: AB 2175 VETOED DATE: 09/28/2000

SEP 28 2000

Apparently as of 10/9/2001, 45 footers are now legal in California under certain circumstances. See bottom of this page for the details!

To Members of the California Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2175 without my signature.

This bill would provide an exception to California's over 40-foot vehicle length limit for house cars (a.k.a. motorhomes) up to 45 feet, under certain conditions, including a requirement that the driver of a 40-foot plus motorhome possess an enhanced Class C drivers license (including a driver skills test and medical certification).

California drivers face some of the most stringent drivers license testing in the nation. With enhanced drivers license testing, we may be able to ensure California drivers can competently operate extra-long motorhomes. We cannot, however, ensure that out-of-state drivers meet similar testing requirements for driver competency.

This bill would allow an out-of-state driver to operate a 45-foot motorhome with only minimum license requirements and I will not subject California motorists to the hazards that could result. For this reason, I am returning the bill unsigned.

Sincerely,

GRAY DAVIS

What is the matter with this guy? 45 footers are illegal in California.

The Bill

from the website: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0451-0500/sb_488_bill_20010424_amended_sen.html

BILL NUMBER: SB 488 AMENDED
BILL TEXT

AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 24, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Karnette

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2001

   An act to amend Section 35400 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 488, as amended, Karnette.  Highways:  vehicle length.
   Existing law prohibits any vehicle on a highway from exceeding a
length of 40 feet, except, among others, a bus of a length of up to
45 feet when operating on certain federal highways or on routes
identified by the Department of Transportation or local authorities.
Existing law prohibits the department or local authorities, with
respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, to deny
reasonable access to a bus of a length up to 45 feet between those
highways and routes and points of loading and unloading for motor
carriers of passengers as required by a specified federal act.
   This bill would revise the definition of "reasonable access" for
these purposes and would authorize the department and local
authorities to deny access to a highway based on the safety and
engineering analysis of the highway and  to post
 would require the posting of  signs denying that access
 to a bus of a length of up to 45 feet  .
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 35400 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   35400.  (a) No vehicle shall exceed a length of 40 feet.
   (b) This section does not apply to any of the following:
   (1) A vehicle used in a combination of vehicles when the excess
length is caused by auxiliary parts, equipment, or machinery not used
as space to carry any part of the load, except that the combination
of vehicles shall not exceed the length provided for combination
vehicles.
   (2) A vehicle when the excess length is caused by any parts
necessary to comply with the fender and mudguard regulations of this
code.
   (3) (A) An articulated bus or articulated trolley coach that does
not exceed a length of 60 feet.
   (B) An articulated bus or articulated trolley coach described in
subparagraph (A) may be equipped with a folding device attached to
the front of the bus or trolley if the device is designed and used
exclusively for transporting bicycles.  The device, including any
bicycles transported thereon, shall be mounted in a manner that does
not materially affect efficiency or visibility of vehicle safety
equipment, and shall not extend more than 36 inches from the front
body of the bus or trolley coach when fully deployed.  The handlebars
of a bicycle that is transported on a device described in this
subparagraph shall not extend more than 42 inches from the front of
the bus.
   (4) A semitrailer while being towed by a motortruck or truck
tractor, if the distance from the kingpin to the rearmost axle of the
semitrailer does not exceed 40 feet for semitrailers having two or
more axles, or 38 feet for semitrailers having one axle if the
semitrailer does not, exclusive of attachments, extend forward of the
rear of the cab of the motortruck or truck tractor.
   (5) A bus when the excess length is caused by the projection of a
front safety bumper or a rear safety bumper, or both.  The safety
bumper shall not cause the length of the vehicle to exceed the
maximum legal limit by more than one foot in the front and one foot
in the rear.  For the purposes of this chapter, "safety bumper" means
any device which is fitted on an existing bumper or which replaces
the bumper and is constructed, treated, or manufactured to absorb
energy upon impact.
   (6) A bus when the excess length is caused by a device, located in
front of the front axle, for lifting wheelchairs into the bus.  That
device shall not cause the length of the bus to be extended by more
than 18 inches, inclusive of any front safety bumper.
   (7) A bus when the excess length is caused by a device attached to
the rear of the bus designed and used exclusively for the
transporting of bicycles.  This device may be up to 10 feet in
length, if the device, along with any other device permitted pursuant
to this section, does not cause the total length of the bus,
including any device or load, to exceed 50 feet.
   (8) A bus operated by a public agency or a passenger stage
corporation, as defined in Section 226 of the Public Utilities Code,
used in transit system service, other than a schoolbus, when the
excess length is caused by a folding device attached to the front of
the bus which is designed and used exclusively for transporting
bicycles.  The device, including any bicycles transported thereon,
shall be mounted in a manner that does not materially affect
efficiency or visibility of vehicle safety equipment, and shall not
extend more than 36 inches from the front body of the bus when fully
deployed.  The handlebars of a bicycle that is transported on a
device described in this paragraph shall not extend more than 42
inches from the front of the bus.  A device described in this
paragraph may not be used on any bus which, exclusive of the device,
exceeds 40 feet in length or on any bus having a device attached to
the rear of the bus pursuant to paragraph (7).
   (9) A bus of a length of up to 45 feet when operating on those
highways specified in subdivision (a) of Section 35401.5.  The
Department of Transportation or local authorities, with respect to
highways under their respective jurisdictions, shall not deny
reasonable access to a bus of a length of up to 45 feet between the
highways specified in subdivision (a) of Section 35401.5 and points
of loading and unloading for motor carriers of passengers as required
by the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of
1991 (P.L. 102-240).
   As used in this paragraph, "reasonable access" means access
substantially similar to that authorized for licensed carriers of
household goods when directly en route to or from a point of loading
or unloading, if travel is on highways other than those specified in
subdivision (a) of Section 35401.5 and is necessary and incidental to
the loading or unloading of passengers.  The Department of
Transportation or local authorities, with respect to highways under
their respective jurisdictions, may deny access to a highway based on
the safety and engineering analysis of the highway and shall post
signs denying that access  to a bus of a length of up to 45 feet
 .
   (c) The Legislature, by increasing the maximum permissible kingpin
to rearmost axle distance to 40 feet effective January 1, 1987, as
provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b), does not intend this
action to be considered a precedent for any future increases in truck
size and length limitations.
   (d) Any transit bus equipped with a folding device installed on or
after January 1, 1999, that is permitted under subparagraph (B) of
paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) or under paragraph (8) of
subdivision (b) shall be additionally equipped with any of the
following:
   (1) An indicator light that is visible to the driver and is
activated whenever the folding device is in an extended position.
   (2) Any other device or mechanism that provides notice to the
driver that the folding device is in an extended position.
   (3) A mechanism that causes the folding device to retract
automatically from an extended position.
   (e) (1) No person shall improperly or unsafely mount a bicycle on
a device described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (b), or in paragraph (8) of subdivision (b).
   (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 23114 or
subdivision (a) of Section 24002 or any other provision of law, when
a bicycle is improperly or unsafely loaded by a passenger onto a
transit bus, the passenger, and not the driver, is liable for any
violation of this code that is attributable to the improper or
unlawful loading of the bicycle.


 

The History

COMPLETE BILL HISTORY


BILL NUMBER : A.B. No. 67
AUTHOR : Firebaugh
TOPIC : Vehicles: driver's license: length limitation.

TYPE OF BILL :
Inactive
Urgency
Non-Appropriations
2/3 Vote Required
State-Mandated Local Program
Fiscal
Non-Tax Levy

BILL HISTORY
2001
Oct. 10 Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 658, Statutes of 2001.
Oct. 9 Approved by the Governor.
Oct. 1 Enrolled and to the Governor at 10:30 a.m.
Sept. 14 Senate amendments concurred in. To enrollment.
Sept. 14 From Consent Calendar. To third reading.
Sept. 13 In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. Ordered to
Special Consent Calendar.
Sept. 13 Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed and to Assembly.
(Ayes 32. Noes 0.)
Sept. 7 From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 13. Noes
0.). Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
Aug. 20 In committee: Placed on Appropriations suspense file.
Aug. 20 From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer
to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com.
on APPR.
July 17 Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
July 16 From committee: Amend, do pass as amended, and re-refer to Com. on
APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.).
June 21 In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
June 12 Referred to Com. on TRANS.
June 6 In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
June 5 Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed and to Senate.
(Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 2204.)
June 4 Read second time. To third reading.
May 31 From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 21. Noes 0.)
(May 31). Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to
second reading.
May 29 Joint Rule 62(a), file notice waived. (Page 1856.)
May 16 In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
May 1 From committee: Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on APPR.
Re-referred. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 30).
Feb. 1 Referred to Com. on TRANS.
Jan. 3 Read first time.
2000
Dec. 8 From printer. May be heard in committee January 7.
Dec. 7 Introduced. To print.

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