California Governor Gavin Newsom signed several new crime and law
enforcement-related bills that were made into law during the last state legislative session.
One you might notice right away, depending on how often you get pulled over, that is.
If you've been driving for any length of time, it's probably happened to you before - you see the red lights in the rearview mirror, you pull over, and you hear some variation of "do you know why I pulled you over?"
Well, those questions are a thing of the past starting in 2024.
AB 2773 requires police officers to state the purpose of a traffic
or pedestrian stop before asking any other questions. Officers can only skip stating the reason if there is an immediate threat to life or property during the traffic stop.
The new law is said to prevent pretextual stops in which an officer stops a vehicle or pedestrian for something minor, with the intent of searching to determine if a more significant crime is evident.
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Another change taking place in 2024 involves sex trafficking.
It might seem long overdue, but SB 14 prescribes harsher penalties for those arrested and tried on charges of sex trafficking of minors for monetary gain.
The new law designates human trafficking of minors for commercial gain as a serious felony, resulting in harsher prison sentences and inclusion in California's Three Strikes Law.
While 2024 will (hopefully) be more difficult for sex traffickers, a few of the new laws are aiming to make life easier for California workers.
Along with minimum wage hitting $16 an hour state wide, SB 700 modifies existing law to make it unlawful for an employer to request information from an applicant relating to the applicant's prior use of cannabis, or to use prior criminal history of cannabis use.
Other new laws coming in the new year include:
-- AB 701 will impose harsher penalties for people trafficking large amounts of fentanyl. As of Jan. 1, those convicted of dealing a kilogram or more of fentanyl will face stiffer penalties and sentencing enhancement for dealers.
-- AB 2282 expands the definition of hate symbols to include any symbols or marks with "the intent to terrorize another person," such as Nazi symbols and nooses. The bill also speaks to the need to address hate crimes with symbols against certain minority groups.
-- SB 700 modifies existing law to make it unlawful for an employer to request information from an applicant relating to the applicant's prior use of cannabis, or to use prior criminal history of cannabis use.
-- AB 1418 bans local California governments from enforcing crime-free housing policies. Such policies prevent landlords from renting to those with prior convictions, but may also call for the eviction of tenants based on arrests or contact with law enforcement.
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City News Service contributed to this article.