Vehicles: driving offenses: labeling items.

Existing law authorizes a traffic officer with reason to believe that a vehicle is not safely loaded or that the measurements of a vehicle's load are unlawful to require the driver to stop and submit to an inspection, measurement, or weighing of the vehicle. Existing law authorizes a traffic officer who determines that the vehicle is not safely loaded or that the measurements of the vehicle's load are unlawful to require the driver to stop and reload or remove a portion of the load as necessary to make the vehicle load safe. A violation of the Vehicle Code is punishable as an infraction. This bill would require a driver transporting any item that measures longer than 12 inches in length and weighs more than 5 pounds, except as specified, in the cargo area of a vehicle traveling on a highway to affix a label containing information that can be used to identify or contact the owner of the item. A violation of this requirement is an infraction punishable by a fine of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a 2nd offense occurring within one year of a prior offense, or $300 for a 3rd or subsequent offense occurring within one year of 2 or more prior offenses. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.