Lowriders, as well as those with expired registration tags, get a break — 2024 rings in new California traffic laws

California legislators adopted new laws for the driving public that take effect in the new year.

Cities and counties can’t outlaw cruising anymore.

Cops can’t pull you over just because your registration tag is past due.

Officers now have more legal means to go after thieves who crawl under cars to steal catalytic converters and peddle them.

“Thieves continue to steal catalytic converters, while victims foot the bill and must wait for months on end for repairs,” said Assemblymember Vince Fong, (R-Central Valley), in a statement. He introduced one of the bills that becomes law to thwart such crime. “Law enforcement needs more tools to hold thieves accountable and protect California motorists.”

Now, beginning with the new year, officers have a little more help to stop this crime.

Below are some of the new traffic-related laws that 2024 is bringing:

License plates’ registration tags

Having an expired registration tag on the rear license plate no longer can be the sole reason a police officer pulls you over, if before the second month after the expiration.

The new law aims to limit officers’ ability to perform what are called “pre-textual stops” — an excuse to investigative unrelated violations or crimes, say a chance to look for illegal drugs or weapons. Pre-textual stops have been criticized by lawmakers as disproportionately targeting Black and Hispanic motorists, and sometimes have led to unnecessary uses of force.

This law goes into effect on July 1 and remains in place until Jan. 1, 2030 — unless another bill is passed to extend the date.

It doesn’t stop the Department of Motor Vehicles from collecting late registration fees.

Towing vehicles for expired registration

Before a vehicle is towed away for the owner being excessively late on paying for the annual registration, the cop or other official must now verify with the DMV that, in fact, the registration was not paid for six or more months after the deadline.

This new law prohibits a vehicle from being removed if registration only appears way late — maybe the owner paid for it but just didn’t put the sticker on the plate, or maybe the sticker was stolen — until the tardiness of a payment is verified with the DMV’s records.

Speed cameras are coming to some towns

A five-year pilot program allows for speed cameras in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Glendale, Long Beach and San Francisco.

The cameras can be deployed in school zones, high-injury roadways and areas known for illegal street racing.

The cameras get a photo of an offender’s license plate and the ticket is mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner. The automated citations will be treated like parking tickets, adding no points on a driver’s record.

Drivers caught speeding through these high-risk areas will be subject to a fine relative to how many miles per hour they went over the speed limit.

When the cameras are put in, the fine will be $50 for going 11 -15 miles above the posted limit, and $100 for 16-25 mph above. At 100 mph more than the speed limit, the fine is $500.

Low-income offender can get the fine reduced by as much as 80%, and a judge or traffic commissioner can penalize someone with community service instead of money.

Lowrider cruising

Under a new state law, cities and counties can no longer outlaw so-called “cruising,” according to the California Highway Patrol. Cruising was defined as passing a certain location so many times within a particular time frame.

Further, the height restrictions that had restricted lowriding while cruising are no more.

A lowrider vehicle is a modified car that is typically as low to the ground as possible and often features lowered suspensions or hydraulics that allow drivers to make the car bounce.

Traffic and pedestrian stops

Officers will no longer be able to stop drivers or pedestrians by asking if they know why they were stopped. Instead, the officer must disclose the reason for the stop before asking any other question.

The only time an officer can bypass giving a reason for a stop is if the officer believes life or property is in imminent danger.

Catalytic converters

Under existing law, a dealer or retailer who accepts, ships, or sells used catalytic converters must maintain information regarding the purchases, including a copy of the seller’s driver’s license. Now, an added caveat: The device can’t be sold unless it has been permanently marked with its new vehicle identification number (VIN).

Also, it becomes illegal to remove or alter a VIN on a catalytic converter, although there are exceptions, including changing the VIN to the new vehicle. Violations are misdemeanors.

And, another law now makes it a misdemeanor as well for people without special licenses to possess nine or more catalytic converters cut from vehicles. Legitimate repair shops and some other businesses are exempt.