By the Department of Motor Vehicles
SACRAMENTO — With 2013 around the corner, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds motorists of several new laws that will ring in the New Year.
Among the new laws that take effect in Jan. is AB 2020, which deletes the option for persons alleged to be driving under the influence of drugs to choose a chemical test of their urine for the purpose of determining drug impairment, with certain exceptions. Other new laws will establish a new license plate, protect car buyers from “buy-here-pay-here” car dealers in purchase transactions, establish safety standards for autonomous vehicles and impose a new fee on vessel owners. The following is a listing of selected motor vehicle and driver-related laws that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2013.
Driving Under the Influence. Drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs will no longer have the option to choose a chemical test of their urine to determine drug content. By requiring a blood test, with a few exceptions, AB 2020 will help law enforcement and prosecutors to better identify and convict persons driving under the influence of drugs. If a blood test is unavailable, then the person is deemed to have given his or her consent to a urine test. (AB 2020/Pan)
California Legacy License Plates. Effective Jan. 1, 2013, DMV will accept applications for a series of three specialized license plates that replicate plates from California’s past. Motorists will be able to choose from a minimum of three styles: yellow background with black lettering, black background with yellow lettering, and blue background with yellow lettering. (AB 1658/Gatto) ...