AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY OCTOBER 20, 2004

SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 11

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR WINSLOW

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 11: AUTOMOBILE SAFETY.

EXISTING LAW REQUIRES VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN CALIFORNIA TO COMPLY WITH VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO VEHICLES.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS THAT SELL MOTOR VEHICLES IN CALIFORNIA TO EQUIP A NEW AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURED OR SOLD IN THE STATE WITH AN AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT DEVICE THAT IMMEDIATELY ILLUMINATES AN AUTOMOBILE'S HEADLIGHTS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED BY JANUARY 1, 2008.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 11: RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE SAFETY

WHEREAS, VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS CURRENTLY MANUFACTURE SOME AUTOMOBILES THAT AUTOMATICALLY ILLUMINATE AN AUTOMOBILE'S HEADLIGHTS WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE'S IGNITION IS TURNED ON; AND

WHEREAS, RESEARCH STUDIES INDICATE THAT-FEWER AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN AN AUTOMOBILE'S HEADLIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED; AND

WHEREAS, NEW JERSEY HAS ENACTED LEGISLATION REQUIRING AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS TO TURN ON THEIR HEADLIGHTS WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ARE ACTIVATED, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A DECREASE IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS IN THAT STATE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2004 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT ALL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS THAT SELL MOTOR VEHICLES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BE REQUIRED TO EQUIP A NEW AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURED OR SOLD IN THE STATE WITH AN AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT DEVICE THAT IMMEDIATELY ILLUMINATES AN AUTOMOBILE'S HEADLIGHTS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED BY JANUARY 1, 2008; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE  STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, 

THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.