Some of the new regulations are aimed at clarifying the vehicle code, protecting motorists’ privacy, ensuring better motorcycle rider safety, and providing public information about hybrid and electric vehicles.

“As a driver, you want to be aware of the new rules of the road, and AAA hopes to alert people to the latest changes,” said Matt Skryja, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “AAA actively works to promote safe and responsible transportation, and we supported many of these new laws.”

New laws for 2011

Vehicle code violations

AAA strongly supported SB 949, authored by Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach). This clarifying law will stop a growing practice by local jurisdictions that choose to ignore the state laws governing traffic violations, known as the Vehicle Code, and instead cite drivers for traffic violations under vague local ordinances with varying penalties.

Among the many reasons AAA supported this bill is that it will help protect safe drivers from the unsafe ones, since local ordinance citations do not ever have to be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

With violations unreported, the DMV cannot keep track of the drivers who incurred them and take intervening action when necessary. This law ensures that California has statewide uniform traffic laws, uniform enforcement of those laws and uniform penalties for violations.

Effective July 1, 2011.

Privacy for electronic toll collection

Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) authored SB 1268, which AAA supported.

This new law prohibits local transportation agencies, such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the Bay Area, from selling or disseminating personal information of subscribers to electronic toll collection systems such as FASTRAK.

AAA supported this bill because, as with other technology that collects data and information from users, individuals may be reluctant to use them for fear their personal information will be used inappropriately or for unintended purposes. AAA hopes the law will help alleviate those concerns and increase usage of FASTRAK or other electronic toll collection systems.

Effective Jan. 1, 2011.

Motorcycle law

AB 1952 closes a loophole that allowed a person with a valid motorcycle driver’s instruction permit to operate that motorcycle prior to taking and passing an on-bike training skills safety course.

Motorcycle drivers under 21 must now complete a 15-hour safety training course before receiving a learner’s permit, and they’re required to have that permit a full six months before applying for a license.

AAA supported Assemblyman Roger Niello’s (R-Sacramento) bill as a common-sense safety measure.

Effective Jan. 1, 2011.

New Web site for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles (SB 1455- Kehoe)

The Energy Commission, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, will develop a Web site to provide consumers with information about charging plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicles thanks to SB 1455, authored by Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego).

With nearly every auto manufacturer developing plug-in and/or electric vehicles, AAA believes this website (operational by July 1, 2011) will help consumers find answers to questions about whether his/her residence will require a utility service upgrade, basic charging requirements, utility rate options, load management techniques, and more.

Effective January 1, 2011.

Towing fees and access notice

Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Santa Ana) authored AB 519, which requires towing companies to give consumers a towing fees and access notice and an itemized invoice of all towing and storage fees.

AAA supported this bill as a way to clean up inferior operators in the industry and to help consumers and insurers predict towing, storage and related billing.

Effective Jan. 1, 2011.

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The South Lake Fire Safe Council has kept busy this year working to protect the community from fire.

The group is offering its thanks to the community for supporting memberships this year. Such memberships help make it possible to protect the community.

Some examples of the the council's activities this year include educational programs and chipping more than 100 sites.

The council currently is working to update its Web site and is making plans for next year.

The South Lake Fire Safe Council meets on the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Middletown Fire Station on Highway 175. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

Visit the council online at www.southlakefiresafecouncil.org, where you'll find membership applications and chipping applications.

The study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that two out of five drivers (41 percent) admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel, while 10 percent admit to having fallen asleep in just the past year.

More than a quarter of those surveyed admitted that, in the previous month, they drove despite being so tired that they had difficulty keeping their eyes open.

“There’s a huge disconnect between what people know to be safe and what they are actually doing,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “One out of every four drivers, or 27 percent of those surveyed, say they drove despite being so tired they had difficulty keeping their eyes open, but 85 percent said that behavior is unacceptable.”

Sleepiness decreases awareness, slows reaction time and impairs judgment just like drugs or alcohol. A new analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data finds that nearly 17 percent of fatal crashes, 13 percent of serious injury crashes and seven percent of crashes where a vehicle is towed involve a driver who is drowsy.

Younger drivers age 16-24 were nearly twice as likely to be involved in a drowsy driving crash as drivers age 40-59.

AAA is sharing the results of their recent study as part of the National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, so that drivers will know the contribution drowsy driving has to motor vehicle crashes and take steps to remain alert behind the wheel.

To remain alert and avoid drowsiness, AAA suggests:

• Getting plenty of sleep (at least six hours) the night before a long trip;

• Scheduling a break every two hours or 100 miles;

• Traveling at times you are normally awake, and staying overnight when possible;

• Stopping if you become sleepy;

• Drinking a caffeinated beverage;

Symptoms of sleepiness include but are not limited to:

• Having trouble keeping your eyes open and focused;

• The inability to keep your head up;

• Daydreaming or having wandering, disconnected thoughts;

• Drifting from your lane or off the road, or tailgating;

More information about driving safely is available at www.aaa.com/saferdriving.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Congress passed HR 4853 Dec. 16, and President Obama signed the bill Dec. 17. This bill includes a renewal of tax incentives for private landowners who protect their land with a voluntary conservation easement agreement.

Conservation easements can be placed on lands with high agricultural, natural or scenic value. The incentive had expired at the end of 2009, but has now been renewed through the end of 2011, and is retroactive to January 1, 2010.

Conservation-minded landowners now have until Dec. 31, 2011, to take advantage of a significant tax deduction for donating a voluntary conservation agreement to permanently protect important natural, agricultural or historic resources on their land.

The bill is viewed as particularly valuable to preserving working family farms and ranches.

In Lake County, the organization to which landowners can donate a conservation easement is the Lake County Land Trust.

Land owners maintain ownership and management of their land, can pass the land on to their heirs or can sell their lands. What they, and future landowners, forego are future development rights, thereby conserving the agricultural or natural values of the land.

The enhanced incentive applies to a landowner’s federal income tax. It:

• Raises the deduction a donor can take for donating a voluntary conservation agreement from 30 percent of their income in any year to 50 percent;

• Allows farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100 percent of their income; and

• Increases the number of years over which a donor can take deductions from six to 16 years.

“Our whole community wins when thoughtful landowners conserve their land this way, protecting wildlife habitat, scenic landscapes, productive agricultural lands, and all the societal benefits the come along with conservation of natural and agricultural lands,” said Catherine Koehler, executive director of the Lake County Land Trust.

“Conservation agreements have become an important tool nationally for protecting our watersheds, farms, and natural landscapes,” Koehler explained. “Nationally, about one quarter of lands conserved annually are conserved through conservation easements.”

The Lake County Land Trust joins America’s 1,700 land trusts and their two million supporters in thanking Congress for making this important conservation tool available.

According to the Land Trust Alliance, the national organization that provides a voice in Washington, DC, for land trusts, bills to make this incentive permanent have 274 House and 41 Senate co-sponsors from all 50 states, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans in the House.

This legislation is supported by more than 60 national agricultural, sportsmen’s and conservation organizations.

To learn more about the enhanced incentive, contact the Lake County Land Trust at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-262 0707, or find information at the Land Trust Alliances Web site, www.lta.org/easementincentive.

Habitat for Humanity has in the past and will continue to build new homes, but to have a greater impact on the community’s living conditions; the much needed “A Brush of Kindness” program will help current low-income homeowners get the necessary repairs for their homes.

The focus will be on low-income households.

The number of homes in Lake County that need some repair is high, in the city of Clearlake it is estimated that 74 percent of the homes in the city need repair or replacement.

“With all the calls over the years requesting home repairs, we are pleased to be able to offer this program,” said Richard Birk, president of Habitat for Humanity Lake County. “It will be a volunteer-based program, so the community must get involved, from individuals, businesses, church congregations, civic groups, contractors and more.”

Birk added, “We will learn from the first homes selected on cost issues, organizing volunteers, donors and businesses.”

For those interested in the details and requirements of the program, check out Habitat for Humanity Lake County's Web site at www.lakehabitat.org or call 707 994-1100 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Pictured are Don Smith, president of the North Lake Garden Club; Marilyn Wafford, Penny Pines chair; and Henry F. Bethel, past president, (2008-09, 2009-10) North Lake Garden Club. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – At the recent holiday potluck, hosted by Sharon Thorne and Don Smith on Dec. 18, the North Lake Garden Club presented a Penny Pines certificate to Henry Bethel, past president, for his exemplary service to his club and community.

The Penny Pines conservation program was established to aid in the reforestation program, particularly in burned over areas.

By purchasing a $68 Penny Pines Plantation, a certificate is awarded. The money is sent to Mendocino National Forest, USDA Forest Service.

The Penny Pines donation will aid in planting trees in the Grindstone Ranger District and be utilized to reforest the area that burned in the Spanish Fire, about 5,000 acres burned in 2003.

A letter of thanks was sent to North Lake Garden Club from Forest Supervisor Thomas A Contreras, commending the club for their ninth donation in honor of Bethel.

Those members of the public wishing to support this effort for reforestation can donate monies to North Lake Garden Club, mailing it to North Lake Garden Club, attention Sharon Thorne, Treasurer, P.O. Box 517, Nice, CA 95464.