Assemblyman Tom Lackey
A bill from Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, to protect law enforcement officers during traffic stops was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, according to a press release from his office.
The legislation will help protect law enforcement officers by simplifying the process for officers to issue electronic citations during traffic stops.
“I am pleased that the governor signed my bill to bring California law into the 21st century and to help protect our law enforcement officers during traffic stops,” said Lackey. “Being exposed to passing traffic during stops can be one of the most dangerous parts of an officer’s job. By simplifying the use of electronic citations, the bill makes stops significantly safer for California’s officers.”
During a traffic stop, law enforcement officers are required to control the stop, the violator inside the vehicle, the area around them, and complete the citation in a reasonable amount of time.
AB 1927 allows law enforcement agencies to be more efficient with their citation forms and maintains officer safety.
The bill was sponsored by the Peace Officers Research Association of California—the state’s largest public safety officer organization.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Tweet This
Facebook
Digg This
Bookmark
Stumble
RSS
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
2 Comments
OK, I haven’t read the bill, but then again this “press release” doesn’t begin to say how it will be safer, much less how they’re actually going to perform the stop, inspection (identity, etc.)and citation when required.
So, are they just gonna use their cellphones and phone it in?
Or does the Assemblyman’s office not know what’s in the Bill either?
OK, Part 2; Here’s a copy of the bill from February that I found online:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 853.9 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
853.9. (a) (1) If written notice to appear has been prepared,
delivered, and filed by an officer or the prosecuting attorney with
the court pursuant to Section 853.6, an exact and legible duplicate
copy of the notice when filed with the magistrate, in lieu of a
verified complaint, shall constitute a complaint to which the
defendant may plead “guilty” or “nolo contendere.”
(2) If the defendant violates his or her promise to appear in
court, or does not deposit lawful bail, or pleads other than “guilty”
or “nolo contendere” to the offense charged, a complaint shall be
filed which shall conform to the provisions of this code and which
shall be deemed to be an original complaint; and thereafter
proceedings shall be had as provided by law, except that a defendant
may, by an agreement in writing, subscribed by him or her and filed
with the court, waive the filing of a verified complaint and elect
that the prosecution may proceed upon a written notice to appear.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if the written notice to
appear has been prepared on a form approved by the Judicial Council,
an exact and legible duplicate copy of the notice when filed with the
magistrate shall constitute a complaint to which the defendant may
enter a plea and, if the notice to appear is verified, upon which a
warrant may be issued. If the notice to appear is not verified, the
defendant may, at the time of arraignment, request that a verified
complaint be filed.
(c) If the notice to appear issued to and signed by the arrested
person is being transmitted in electronic form, the copy of the
notice to appear issued to the arrested person need not include the
signature of the arrested person, unless specifically requested by
the arrested person.
Good luck. I got dizzy several times trying to read it. Seems like the officer still needs to do all the stuff they currently do – except in some cases, they don’t require a signature from the miscreant, er citizen.
Uh, safer – how?