Several new laws take effect on Jan. 1 that will affect motorists, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A pilot program will begin to catch people who speed through work zones by snapping a picture of their license plate, CHP said. The pictures will be collected via a fixed or mobile radar or laser system and citations will be issued to the vehicle’s registered owner. This legislation was put forth by Assemblymember Matt Haney, D-San Francisco.

For anyone who has been annoyed by an autonomous vehicle, they may be glad to hear that law enforcement will now be able to issue a “notice of autonomous vehicle noncompliance” to an AV manufacturer for alleged traffic violations. Beginning July 1, all AVs must also have a two-way device on board to communicate with first responders if necessary. This legislation was put forth by former Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco.

Key programming devices now illegal

Car thieves’ materials will also be added to tools that are illegal to possess with the intent to commit burglary. Being in possession of a key programming device will now be a misdemeanor.

As cities and counties grapple with e-bikes, a few statewide laws will be going into effect as well. All e-bikes will be required to have a red reflector or solid or flashing red light attached on their rear during all hours of operation, not just at night. Overall safety standards for e-bikes are also being more closely monitored and have to pass through accredited laboratories to meet the specific standards, CHP said.

Finally, the “slow down and move over law” for vehicles is being expanded to apply to any highway maintenance vehicle or stationary vehicle with its flashing hazard lights on or warning devices such as cones or flares. Drivers approaching such vehicles must move to the lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle, or, if changing lanes is not possible, slow down to a safe speed.

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.