California assembly busy passing useless, feel-good bills that will, in some cases, tie the hands of police

SACRAMENTO, CA - Police officers asking motorists stopped for a traffic violation have often approached the driver’s door and asked the innocent question, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” Nothing is incriminating about that question; some will answer, “I don’t know,” others will ask, “Do you know who I am?” while others may actually admit their infraction.

However, starting January 1 in California, police officers can no longer ask that question. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2773 into law in 2022, which goes into effect on New Year’s Day. On that date, officers may only state the purpose of the traffic stop before asking any other questions. Yahoo News reports that the law also applies to any stops conducted on pedestrians. 

The law does make one exception where officers can skip telling the scofflaw the reason for the stop, and that is when the officer believes it is necessary “to protect life or property from imminent threat.” 

The law was allegedly created to reduce so-called “pretextual stops,” whereby an officer stops a vehicle or a pedestrian for a minor violation to search the driver and/or vehicle to determine if a more significant crime is evident, such as possessing drugs or weapons. 

An alternate purpose for creating the law was to “de-escalate” interactions between police and suspects. 

The bill's author, Assemblymember Chris Holden, told a legislative subcommittee hearing that the legislation was created to “promote equity and accountability in communities.” The law also requires police departments to monitor compliance with the law and report reasons for all stops. 

As Law Enforcement Today recently reported, police have significantly reduced the number of traffic stops for a litany of reasons, including understaffing, fear of lawsuits, and lack of community support. That, in turn, has had the effect of increases in the number of violent crimes. 

California has been busy with useless, feel-good legislation involving the police. For example, AP 436 will prohibit cities and local governments from prohibiting cruising. It will no longer prohibit modified vehicles from sitting at a level lower than the vehicle's rim. It must be an “equity” thing. 

California is, of course, willing to target its citizens to shake them down for extra revenue in some cases, approving a bill, AB 645, that will allow some cities to establish a pilot system allowing for the issuance of speeding tickets utilizing video cameras. 

Driving unregistered vehicles isn’t a priority for the California Assembly, when AB 256 will go into effect July 1, prohibiting police officers from pulling vehicles over based on expired license plate stickers unless two months have passed. Officers can, however, stop vehicles if they commit other violations. 

California also reaches out to the green movement, passing AB 361, allowing police to cite vehicles parked in bicycle lanes. The law allows local departments to install cameras on vehicles used to enforce parking regulations and use the images to cite the owner of vehicles illegally parked in bike lanes. 

It’s all about priorities.