Re: The full text of Haydon's bill.

Comments:
: Okay, let me make sure I understand this: : According to the parts of this bill relevant to us (I left it on here for reference), if you can't see 20/200 in your better eye without the BiOptic or other correction, then you will not be granted a license. : (?) : Sharlene : : For anyone who is interested, here is the complete text of senator Haydon's bill. : : SB 335 Driver's license: age. : : BILL NUMBER: SB 335 INTRODUCED 02/09/99 : : BILL TEXT : : : : : : INTRODUCED BY Senator Hayden : : : : FEBRUARY 9, 1999 : : : : An act to amend Sections 12805 and 12814 of, and to add : : Section 12814.1 to, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. : : : : LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST : : : : : SB 335, as introduced, Hayden. Driver's license: age. : : (1) Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles is : : prohibited from issuing to or renewing a driver's license of, : : certain listed persons. : : This bill would include in that listing persons whose best : : corrected visual acuity is 20/200 or worse in that person's : : better eye. The bill would prohibit a person from using a : : BiOptic telescopic or similar lens to meet the visual acuity : : standards. : : (2) Existing law allows the department to require an : : examination deemed by the department to be appropriate of an : : applicant for renewal of a driver's license based on records of : : accidents and convictions of that applicant or based on evidence : : of the applicant's condition, and specifies that the age of an : : applicant-licensee, by itself, does not constitute evidence of a : : condition requiring an examination of the applicant's driving : : ability. : : Existing law also prohibits the department from granting a : : driver's license to a person who is 70 years of age or older on : : the basis of a renewal by mail. : : This bill would, additionally, require a person who is 75 : : years of age or older to complete and pass the eyesight test and : : written test, and demonstrate the person's ability to operate a : : motor vehicle in order to be granted a renewal. The bill would : : also limit the terms of a license issued to persons 75 years of : : age or older to terms ranging from 4 years to one year, based : : on the age of the applicant. : : Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: : : yes. State-mandated local program: no. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares the following: : : : : (a) Currently, there is no minimum vision requirement to : : operate a motor vehicle in this state, creating a significant : : weakness in the state's efforts to ensure maximum safety on the : : roads, and there is no mandatory driving test requirement for : : persons over 70 years of age. : : (b) Studies indicate that the aging process causes medical : : problems, including worsened vision and slowed reaction time, : : which affect the ability to drive. Some studies indicate that : : senior drivers are involved in a disproportionate number of : : fatal collisions in California. : : (c) The Legislature declares its intent to determine a just : : and reasonable balance of public safety concerns with protection : : of seniors against discrimination based on age. : : SEC. 2. Section 12805 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: : : : : 12805. The department shall not issue a driver's license to, : : or renew a driver's license of, any person: : : (a) Who is not of legal age to receive a driver's license. : : : : (b) {+ Whose best corrected visual acuity is 20/200 or worse : : in that person's better eye. No person may use a BiOptic : : telescopic or similar lens to meet the visual acuity standards. : : : : (c) +} Who is unable, as shown by examination, to understand : : traffic signs or signals or who does not have a reasonable : : knowledge of the provisions of this code governing the : : operations of vehicles upon the highways. {- : : (c) -} {+ : : (d) +} When it is determined, by examination or other : : evidence, that the person is unable to safely operate a motor : : vehicle upon a highway. {- : : (d) -} {+ : : (e) +} Who is unable to read and understand simple English : : used in highway traffic and directional signs. This subdivision : : does not apply to any person holding an operator's or chauffeur' : : s license issued by this state and valid on September 11, 1957. : : {- : : (e) -} {+ : : (f) +} Who holds a valid driver's license issued by a foreign : : jurisdiction unless the license has been surrendered to the : : department, or is lost or destroyed. {- : : (f) -} {+ : : (g) +} Who has ever held, or is the holder of, a license to : : drive issued by another state, territory, or possession of the : : United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of : : Puerto Rico, and that license has been suspended by reason, in : : whole or in part, of a conviction of a traffic violation until : : the suspension period has terminated, except that the department : : may issue a license to the applicant if, in the opinion of the : : department, it will be safe to issue a license to a person whose : : license to drive was suspended by a state {- which -} {+ that : : +} is not a party to the Driver License Compact provided for in : : Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 15000) of Division 6. {- : : (g) -} {+ : : (h) +} Who has ever held, or is the holder of, a license to : : drive issued by another state, territory, or possession of the : : United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of : : Puerto Rico, and that license has been revoked by reason, in : : whole or in part, of a conviction of a traffic violation, until : : the revocation has been terminated or after the expiration of : : one year from the date the license was revoked, whichever occurs : : first, except that the department may issue a license to the : : applicant if, in the opinion of the department, it will be safe : : to issue a license to a person whose license to drive was : : revoked by a state {- which -} {+ that +} is not a party to the : : Driver License Compact provided for in Chapter 6 (commencing : : with Section 15000) of Division 6. : : SEC. 3. Section 12814 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: : : : : 12814. (a) Application for renewal of a license shall be : : made at an office of the Department of Motor Vehicles by the : : person to whom the license was issued. The department {- may -} : : {+ , +} in its discretion {+ , may +} require an examination of : : the applicant as upon an original application, or an : : examination deemed by {- the -} the department to be appropriate : : considering the licensee's record of convictions and accidents, : : or an examination deemed by the department to be appropriate in : : relation to evidence of a condition {- which -} {+ that +} may : : affect the ability of the applicant to safely operate a motor : : vehicle. {- The -} {+ Except as provided in Section 12814.1, : : the +} age of a licensee, by itself, shall not constitute : : evidence of a condition requiring an examination of the driving : : ability. If the department finds any {- such -} evidence {+ of : : a condition requiring an examination +} , the department shall : : disclose the evidence to the applicant or licensee. In the : : event {- such -} {+ that +} person is absent from the state at : : the time the license expires, the Director of Motor Vehicles may : : extend the license for a period of one year from the expiration : : date of the license. : : (b) Renewal of a driver's license shall be under terms and : : conditions prescribed by the department. : : (c) The department may adopt and administer {- such -} : : regulations {- as shall be deemed -} {+ it deems +} necessary : : for the public safety in the implementation of a program of : : selective testing of applicants, and, with reference to this : : section, the department may waive tests for purposes of : : evaluation of selective testing procedures. : : SEC. 4. Section 12814.1 is added to the Vehicle Code, to : : read: : : 12814.1. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the : : following apply to renewal of licenses: : : (1) If a person is 75 years of age but less than 80 years of : : age at the time his or her current license expires, that person' : : s renewal shall be granted for a four-year period. : : (2) If a person is 80 years of age but less than 86 years of : : age at the time his or her current license expires, that person' : : s renewal shall be granted for a three-year period. : : (3) If a person is 86 years of age but less than 90 years of : : age at the time his or her current license expires, that person' : : s renewal shall be granted for a two-year period. : : (4) If a person is 90 years of age or older at the time his : : or her current license expires, that person's renewal shall be : : granted for a one-year period. : : (b) Prior to granting the renewal of a license to a person : : described in this section, that person shall complete and pass : : the eyesight test and written test, and demonstrate an ability : : to operate a motor vehicle, as those tests and demonstrations : : are described in Section 12804.9, in order to be issued a : : renewal of a license. : : : : Searching keywords: (statusin) (authorHayden) (HooS)

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