CA: New Laws for the New Year

LA Times ^ | 1/1/05

[NormsRevenge]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed 311 bills and signed 959 last year. Here's a look at some of the most notable.

The following new laws take effect Jan. 1 unless otherwise indicated.

.50-caliber rifles: Sale of the heavy, long-range weapons, used mostly by target shooters, is banned in California. Ban supporters argued that the weapons, capable of hitting hovering helicopters, could be used by terrorists. AB 50 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood).

Ballot printouts: Electronic voting systems approved for use in California must include paper printouts so voters can check the accuracy of their votes. SB 1438 by Sen. Ross Johnson ( R-Irvine).

Battered women: Women convicted of killing or attempting to kill their abusers or of committing a felony as a partner with their abusers before Aug. 29, 1996, can petition courts for reconsideration if they show battered-woman's syndrome played a role in the crime. SB 1385 by Sen. John Burton (D-San Francisco).

Bedroom privacy: It is a misdemeanor to film someone in a bedroom without their knowledge. SB 1484 by Sen. Dick Ackerman (R-Irvine).

Boats: It is illegal to run a boat engine while someone hangs from the stern's swim ladder or platform. Starting in May 2005, new boats sold in California must include stickers warning of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning from boat engine exhaust. Since 1990, more than 100 people nationwide have drowned after inhaling carbon monoxide from boat exhaust. AB 2222 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood).

Campaign debt: Candidates cannot have more than $100,000 in campaign debt at any one time, whether they lend themselves money or borrow from a bank. The law took effect in September. SB 1449 by Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine).

[NormsRevenge]

'Your' Representatives at 'work' for you. ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

New year brings a lot of state laws
By Michael Gardner, San Diego Union-Tribune
The new year brings scores of new laws reaching into the office, car and home, regulating the work and play of everyday Californians regardless of age.

[Dilbert56]

Ban supporters argued that the weapons, capable of hitting hovering helicopters, could be used by terrorists. AB 50 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood).

Yes, terrorists are such sticklers for obeying laws. This idiot should have just passed a law banning terrorism.

[No Longer Free State]

Ban supporters argued that the weapons, capable of hitting hovering helicopters, could be used by terrorists. AB 50 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood).

Good thing no other kind of rifle can hit a hovering helicopter, huh?

[taxesareforever]

.50-caliber rifles: Sale of the heavy, long-range weapons, used mostly by target shooters, is banned in California. Ban supporters argued that the weapons, capable of hitting hovering helicopters, could be used by terrorists. AB 50 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood).

I believe a potato gun can hit a hovering helicopter if it is 50 feet off the ground. I can just see where this legislation is going to lead.

[vrwc1]

On the bright side, thanks to the Alliance Defense Fund, the "Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act" (signed into law by Gray Davis) that was to take effect on January 1st has been stayed, due to a judge's ruling that it appears to violate Proposition 22 (limits marriage to one man and one woman).

[Probus]

Yeah, because then they would try to ban other weapons that "look evil" or carry more than 10 rounds, or some other silly shit like that. No, wait, they already did that too. Viva Wyoming!

[x1stcav]

Kalifornia has become a silly place with a bunch of silly lawmakers.

[Magnum44]

It is illegal to run a boat engine while someone hangs from the stern's swim ladder or platform. Starting in May 2005...

Not that you don't have to use common sense about this, but the person who wrote this is obviously not a water skier.

[nothingnew]

.50-caliber rifles: Sale of the heavy, long-range weapons, used mostly by target shooters, is banned in California. Ban supporters argued that the weapons, capable of hitting hovering helicopters, could be used by terrorists.

GOOD! THAT WILL KEEP THOSE WEAPONS OUT OF THOSE DANG TERRORIST'S HANDS!!!!

Pray for California and the rest of what was a Republic.

FMCDH(BITS)

[57Chevy]

Actually, you'd think boat owners, especially house boat owners, would be aware of the carbon monoxide dangers, swimming in and around these boats, not counting the number of folks who get prop injuries. Laws won't stop the fatalities until people become responsible.

[Magnum44]

Yeah, but I know many a time when I have been pulled behind the platform, or pulled others behind the platform body surfing at slow speeds for fun. You just have to know to keep your feet behind the platform while the props engaged. Again, it takes people with common sense to know what you can and cant get away with, when its safe to have the motor on, prop disengaged, prop engaged, or off altogether. It's just another case of the state trying to regulate common sense. (PS - I don't allow alchohol in my ski boat)

[FairOpinion]

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed 311 bills and signed 959 last year."

Well, I'd say that's actually pretty good, he vetoed one quarter of the bills in front of him.

Of course, he probably should have vetoed 90%, judging from the bills that passed, but I bet Gray wouldn't have vetoed any of them.

[No Longer Free State]

Actually, you'd think boat owners, especially house boat owners, would be aware of the carbon monoxide dangers, swimming in and around these boats, not counting the number of folks who get prop injuries. Laws won't stop the fatalities until people become responsible.

Laws won't stop people from being idiots.

Good ole Nannyfornia.

[ArmstedFragg]

Part of the problem is the rule that permits every legislator to introduce thirty bills. They all immediately decide they have to reach the maximum, and the result is a mad scramble to find 3600 areas in which to pass new laws. That's pretty much a guarantee of silliness.

As far as gun rights go, the preferred approach is incremental. There was a proposal to require ID checks for ammunition purchases and a number of others in the last session. Interestingly enough, of the first hundred or so bills introduced in the new session, none have impacted firearms. Maybe they come along when legislators hit that "damn, I've only got 29 bills" mark.

[Veggie Todd]

Ban supporters argued that the weapons, capable of hitting hovering helicopters...

And at the end of 2005, they will say, "See, no hovering helicoters were hit this year with this rifle, so this law must be working." I can't wait.

[x1stcav]

Sometimes I feel the tree of liberty hasn't been drenched with enough tyrant's blood.

[NormsRevenge]

He either hit .250 or .750,, don't ya love stats. lol.

let's split it down the middle and call it a rookie season and a .500 one at that,, He hits for power but strikes out a lot too. ;-)

[Myrddin]

Many black powder rifles are .50 caliber or slightly larger. Was the legislation crafted to just attack the 50 BMG or did it manage to emcompass black powder rifles via vague wording?

[ArmstedFragg]

Here's the definition:

12278. (a) As used in this chapter, a ".50 BMG rifle" means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276, 12276.1, or 12276.5, or a machinegun, as defined in Section 12200.
(b) As used in this chapter, a ".50 BMG cartridge" means a cartridge that is designed and intended to be fired from a center fire rifle and that meets all of the following criteria:
(1) It has an overall length of 5.54 inches from the base to the tip of the bullet.
(2) The bullet diameter for the cartridge is from .510 to, and including, .511 inch.
(3) The case base diameter for the cartridge is from .800 inch to, and including, .804 inch.
(4) The cartridge case length is 3.91 inches.
(c) A ".50 BMG rifle" does not include any "antique firearm," nor any curio or relic as defined in Section 178.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

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Oddly enough, it appears that a true 50 caliber weapon (.50 bullet) would be exempted.