7/28/03-A bill that would require California trucks to carry a device to enable police or carriers to stop the vehicles while in motion will not be considered until 2004.
The Senate Transportation Committee voted 7-2 in early July against AB575, effectively killing it for the rest of this year. The Assembly approved the measure in June.
The bill will be carried over into the new session of the General Assembly that begins in January 2004.
The proposal was designed to keep hazardous materials out of the hands of terrorists.
It would have required trucks carrying flammable materials, radiological isotopes and a list of other hazardous materials to have some kind of disconnect device - an external mechanism that would either activate the brakes or cut off the fuel to the engine. The device would have to be built in a way that would allow Highway Patrol officers to activate it from the outside of the truck. AB575 also contained a requirement for GPS tracking devices that would allow carriers to find a truck's location at any time.

7/17/03-A Senate Transportation Committee hearing was scheduled for July 1 on AB575, but was delayed. A new hearing date has not been scheduled.
The bill requires trucks carrying flammable materials, radiological isotopes and a list of other hazardous materials to have some kind of disconnect device – an external mechanism that would either activate the brakes or cut off the fuel to the engine.
AB575 is designed to keep hazardous materials out of the hands of terrorists. It also contains a requirement for GPS tracking devices that would allow carriers to find a truck’s location at any time.
The Assembly approved the bill June 3. If it passes the Senate panel, it will head to the floor for a final vote.
For bill status, call (916) 319-2856.

6/20/03-The Senate Transportation Committee has scheduled a hearing for July 1 on a bill that would require trucks based in the state to carry a device enabling police or carriers to stop the vehicles.
AB575 is designed to keep certain hazardous materials out of the hands of terrorists. The measure passed the Assembly 67-7 on June 2.
Consideration of the measure is down to the wire. Policy committees in California must report out all bills by July 11. Since the Transportation Committee meets every other Tuesday, its only July dates are the 1st and 15th. The second date is past the deadline, but the committee might request an extension.
If the bill receives approval from the Senate committee, it would head to the full Senate for a vote. That could occur anytime before the end of the session in September.
AB575 covers trucks carrying poison or toxic gas; flammable and combustible liquid; poison or toxic material; infectious substances; or radioactive material.
The bill requires every truck covered to have some kind of disconnect device – an external mechanism that could be activated by either law officers or the carrier that would either activate the brakes or cut off the fuel to the engine. However, the bill leaves the type of technology that would be used to stop trucks up to the California Highway Patrol, rather than specifying technologies in the legislation.
AB575 also requires each truck have a GPS tracking device that would allow the carrier to locate the trucks at any time.
For bill status, call (916) 319-2856.

5/20/03-Legislators are still working on a bill that would require hazmat truckers to put devices on their trucks to enable police to stop the vehicles.
Gone from the measure is a provision requiring exterior markings to identify how a truck can be stopped. Also gone are references to specific truck-stopping technologies.
AB575 is designed to keep hazardous materials out of the hands of terrorists.
The bill would require all covered hazmat trucks to have some kind of disconnect device – an external mechanism that would either activate the brakes or cut off the fuel to the engine. The device would have to be built in a way that would allow Highway Patrol officers to activate it from the outside.
AB575 contains a requirement for GPS tracking devices that would allow carriers to find a hazmat truck’s location at any time.
It passed the Assembly Transportation Committee April 29 and is now headed to the full Assembly.
If the bill becomes law, after July 1, 2005, California-based truckers who do not carry the devices could face a misdemeanor charge, including a maximum penalty of 1 year in jail or a $10,000 fine.
For Assembly bill status, call (916) 319-2856.

5/12/03-The Assembly Committee on Appropriations will hear testimony May 14 about a proposal to put a device on trucks to enable police or carriers to stop the vehicles.
AB575 passed the Assembly transportation committee April 29 by a vote of 16-0. If it passes in the appropriations committee, it will likely head to the Assembly floor for a final vote before heading to the Senate.
The bill is designed to keep certain hazardous materials out of the hands of terrorists.
The bill, which applies to only certain hazmat loads, would require every truck covered to have some kind of disconnect device – an external mechanism that would either activate the brakes or cut off the fuel to the engine. The device would have to be built in a way that would allow Highway Patrol officers to activate it from the outside of the truck.
For Assembly bill status, call (916) 319-2856.

4/30/03-A legislative committee has approved a bill that would require California trucks to carry a device to enable police to stop the vehicles and to mark the truck’s exterior to show how the device works.
AB575 is designed to keep certain hazardous materials out of the hands of terrorists. The bill passed the Assembly transportation committee April 29 by a 16-0 vote.
Every truck covered under the legislation would be required to have some kind of disconnect device – an external mechanism that would either activate the brakes or cut off the fuel to the engine. The device would have to be built in a way that would allow Highway Patrol officers to activate it from the outside of the truck.
The bill would require markings on the outside of the truck “to identify the activation method of the [disconnect] device.” That marking might be “a letter or symbol designated by the department.”
The proposal also contains a requirement for GPS tracking devices that would allow carriers to find a truck’s location at any time.
AB575 does not differentiate between trucks owned by owner-operators as opposed to company-owned trucks.
The bill is headed to the Assembly appropriations committee. For Assembly bill status, call (916) 319-2856.

4/25/03-Many hazmat truckers in California could soon have to put a device on their trucks to enable police to stop the vehicles.
AB575, sponsored by Assemblyman John Dutra, D-Fremont, is designed to keep certain hazardous materials out of the hands of terrorists. Every truck covered under the legislation would be required to have some kind of disconnect device – an external mechanism that would either activate the brakes or cut off the fuel to the engine. The device would have to be built in a way that would allow Highway Patrol officers to activate it from the outside of the truck.
In fact, the bill would require markings on the outside of the truck “to identify the activation method of the [disconnect] device.” That marking might be “a letter or symbol designated by the department.”
The stopping devices are not the only new requirement contained in AB575. It also contains a requirement for GPS tracking devices that would allow carriers to find a truck’s location at any time. That requirement would apply to motor carriers “transporting certain amounts of hazardous materials in certain vehicles.”
The provision does not differentiate between trucks owned by owner-operators as opposed to company-owned trucks.
An Assembly transportation committee hearing on the bill is scheduled for April 28.
For Assembly bill status, call (916) 319-2856.