NEW LAWS

Mobile Phone Use, Effective July 1, 2008.

• Drivers 18 years of age and older are required to use a hands-free device while driving.
• Teens (under age 18) are not permitted to use mobile phones or other wireless devices while driving.

Smoking:

• No smoking is allowed while commuting as Passenger or Driver.

Slow for the Cone Zone:

• Drivers are required to move over and slow down when approaching a roadside emergency along a state highway or freeway. The law is designed to reduce the deaths of police officers, tow truck drivers, paramedics and other emergency personnel who are aiding stranded or injured motorists. Use caution if lane changes are required.

Use of Windshield Wipers:

• Turn on your headlights if inclement weather or low visibility (1000 feet or less) requires the use of windshield wipers.

 Evading a Peace Officer

• Do not deliberately run away or attempt to evade a peace officer performing his/her duties (police pursuit). The punishment is up to one year in county jail.
• If serious bodily injury occurs during a police pursuit, the punishment is:
  • up to seven years in state prison or up to one year in county jail, or
  • a fine of $2000 to $10,000, or
  • both a fine and imprisonment
• If a person is killed during a police pursuit, the punishment is up to ten years in state prison.

SEAT BELTS

Seat belts, both the lap belt and shoulder harness, must be in good working order. You may not operate your vehicle unless you and all your passengers 16 years of age or over, or who weigh 60 lbs. or more, are wearing seat belts. If seat belts are not worn, you may be given a traffic ticket. Also, the driver willbe given the ticket if a passenger, younger than 16, is not wearing his/her seat belt. Always use your seat belts (including the shoulder harness) if your vehicle is equipped with them and even if the vehicle is equipped with air bags. If you wear only a lap belt when driving, your chances of living through an accident are twice as good as someone who doesn't wear a lap belt. If you wear a lap and shoulder belt, your chances are three to four times better. Pregnant women should wear the lap belt as low as possible under the abdomen and the shoulder strap between the breasts and to the side of the abdomen's bulge. WARNING: Using seat belts reduces the chance of being thrown from your vehicle in case of an accident. If you don't install and use a shoulder harness with the seat (lap) belt, serious or fatal injuries may happen in some crashes. Lap-only belts increase the chance of spinal column and abdominal injuries- especially in children. Shoulder harnesses may be available for your vehicle, if it is not already equipped with them.

RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of the Driver to safely transport its passengers to their destination. For that the driver must be free of any drugs and alcohol of any kind during the commuting from home to work and vice versa. It's not just your life. Take your responsibility seriously. For passengers, you must not distract the Driver while he/she is operating the vehicle. As a passenger, DVD, music player, etc shall be in a way that will not distract driver or other passengers during commuting time.

LAWS AND RULES OF THE ROAD

Each State has slight different "laws and rules of the road". Individuals operating a vehicle in the residing State must obey all laws and rules of the road as stated in the Department of Motor Vehicle.