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December 28, 2006
Thank you Sacramento
Starting Monday, we have a variety of new laws in place. Thanks to AB 1850, not only is it illegal to ride in the trunk of a car (presumable moving), it is illegal to knowingly allow someone else to ride in the trunk. SB 1806 prevents us from leaving pets in the car on hot days, SB 1349 and SB 1578 prevents us from leaving a dog tethered to a stationary object – though the danger of tethering a dog to a moving object seems even worse.
However, a law that could save many lives – making talking on a handheld phone while driving illegal – will not go into effect until July of 2008. Why the delay?
Comments
Leslie,
Perhaps you should consider running! :-)
Posted by: Scott Harris at December 29, 2006 02:31 PMScott, Leslie -- great thoughts from both of you. (Leslie, thank you for your diplomatic comments in yesterday’s Star.)
I can’t help posing (rhetorically) another variation of my favorite “chicken/egg” question: “Are these elected officials truly a reflection of their constituents, or are they able to get away with these ridiculous laws because they know the general public is not paying attention?
If memory serves me correctly, California has averaged approximately 1000 bills passed each year in recent years. 1000! It is difficult to comprehend. I don’t think there is a better argument for returning to a part time Legislature.
The CA Legislature has flat out strayed too far from managing the “basic business” of the state.
John Andersen
John,
I think it's a combination of both, but only the constituents can change it. Let's hope we do.
Posted by: Scott Harris at January 2, 2007 07:21 AM
I have always said that any legislator that proposes a law should bring forth 2 old laws to be repealed.
While many of these laws get passed by good hearts and best intentions, the enforcement is so cumbersome and expensive that we create a police state. Is it really cost effective to monitor the hours a pet is tethered in order to charge the owner with a crime once it passes 3 hours?
The legislature should be judged not by the quantity of the laws passed, but rather the quality of the laws passed.
Posted by: Leslie Cornejo at December 29, 2006 09:53 AM