The bill was also created to “promote equity and accountability in communities,” according to author Chris Holden, during a legislative committee hearing. It cleared the assembly floor with a vote of 49 to 24 (seven members didn’t vote) and the senate with a vote of 28 to 10 (two members didn’t vote).
The bill also requires “law enforcement agencies to monitor the compliance of the law and to include in reports the reasons for all stops that are conducted.”
With the new law to take effect from tomorrow (January 1, 2024), Californian police enforcers, most likely patrolling the streets and highways in a Ford Explorer, should be less intimidating. The use of body-worn cameras should also help but it is not mandatory in the state. We as motorists also have to do our part and comply with the enforcers, and follow the protocols during a traffic stop.
Considering the safety advantages of the new law, we hope to see other states follow suit.