10/19/04-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill into law expanding the list of who can be fined for making truckers wait at port terminals in the state.
The new law, previously AB1971, modifies existing state law requiring every marine terminal in California to operate in a way that keeps trucks from idling any more than 30 minutes while waiting to load or unload or face a fine. The new provision expands those fines to include port operators.
It applies only to facilities at ports that handle 100,000 or more containers a year.
Previously, marine terminal operators who try to divert trucks to freeways or staging areas away from the ports to avoid the law faced an additional fine. The new law has an additional provision prohibiting the terminals from passing the cost of the fines on to truck owners and operators.
Terminal operators could face a $250 fine for every truck left idling more than 30 minutes; if the terminal diverts the idling trucks, that fine increases to $750.
The law also requires each of the state’s air quality districts to determine the level of monitoring and enforcement necessary, based on the truck idling problems within each district.
Under the new law, fines expand to include terminals that make truckers “queue,” or wait in line. It also expands the duties of air-quality districts to cover queuing trucks as well as idling ones.
The measure received final approval from the Senate and Assembly in August. It was signed by the governor Sept. 18.

8/18/04-The Senate has approved a bill that would expand the list of who can be fined for making truckers wait at port terminals in the state.
The measure has been sent to the Assembly, which must approve Senate changes to the bill before passing it on to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his signature.
AB1971 passed the upper chamber by a 26-2 vote on Aug. 16.
It would modify state law that requires every marine terminal in California to operate in a way that keeps trucks from idling any more than 30 minutes while waiting to load or unload or face a fine.
The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, would take those fines and expand them to port operators.
Under the current law, marine terminal operators who try to divert trucks to freeways or staging areas away from the ports to avoid the law face an additional fine. The new law has an additional provision that would prohibit the terminals from passing the cost of the fines on to truck owners and operators. Terminal operators could face a $250 fine for every truck left idling more than 30 minutes; if the terminal diverts the idling trucks, that fine increases to $750.
The law also requires each state air quality district to determine the level of monitoring and enforcement necessary based on the truck idling problem that exists within the district.
AB1971 would expand those fines to include terminals that make truckers “queue,” or wait in line. It would also expand the duties of air-quality districts to cover queuing trucks as well as idling ones.
For bill status, call (916) 445-2323.

8/11/04-The Senate is preparing for a final vote on a bill that would expand the list of who can be fined for making truckers wait at port terminals in the state.
AB1971 would modify state law that requires every marine terminal in California to operate in a way that keeps trucks from idling any more than 30 minutes while waiting to load or unload.
The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, would take those fines and expand them to port operators.
Under current law, marine terminal operators who try to divert trucks to freeways or staging areas away from the ports to avoid the law face an additional fine. And the new law also prohibits the terminals from passing the cost of the fines on to truck owners and operators. Terminal operators could face a $250 fine for every truck left idling more than 30 minutes; if the terminal diverts the idling trucks, that fine increases to $750.
The law also requires each state air quality district to determine the level of monitoring and enforcement necessary based on the truck idling problem that exists within the district.
AB1971 would expand those fines to include terminals that make truckers “queue,” or wait in line. It would also expand the duties of air-quality districts to cover queuing trucks as well as idling ones.
The Senate held a second reading on the bill – the last step before a final vote – Aug. 9. For bill status, call (916) 445-2323.

6/21/04-The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill June 16 that would expand the list of who can be fined for making truckers wait at port terminals in the state. The bill’s next stop is the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
AB1971, which previously passed the Assembly, would modify state law that requires every marine terminal in California to operate in a way that keeps trucks from idling any more than 30 minutes while waiting to load or unload.
The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, would take those fines and expand them to port operators.
Under current law, marine terminal operators who try to divert trucks to freeways or staging areas away from the ports to avoid the law face an additional fine. And the new law also prohibits the terminals from passing the cost of the fines on to truck owners and operators. Terminal operators could face a $250 fine for every truck left idling more than 30 minutes; if the terminal diverts the idling trucks, that fine expands to $750.
The law also requires each state air quality district to determine the level of monitoring and enforcement necessary based on the truck idling problem that exists within the district.
AB1971 would expand those fines to include terminals that make truckers “queue,” or wait in line. It would also expand the duties of air-quality districts to cover queuing trucks as well as idling ones.
For bill status, call (916) 445-2323.

5/17/04-The Assembly voted in favor of a bill that would expand the list of who can be fined for making truckers wait at port terminals. It now moves to the Senate.
AB1971, sponsored by Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, would modify state law that requires every marine terminal in California to operate in a way that keeps trucks from idling any more than 30 minutes while waiting to load or unload.
The proposal would take those fines and expand them to port operators.
Under current law, marine terminal operators who try to divert trucks to freeways or staging areas away from the ports to avoid the law face an additional fine. And the new law also prohibits the terminals from passing the cost of the fines on to truck owners and operators. Terminal operators could face a $250 fine for every truck left idling more than 30 minutes; if the terminal diverts the idling trucks, that fine expands to $750.
The law also requires each state air quality district to determine the level of monitoring and enforcement necessary based on the truck idling problem that exists within the district.
Under AB1971, those fines would expand to include terminals that make truckers “queue,” or wait in line. It would also expand the duties of air-quality districts to cover queuing trucks as well as idling ones.
The bill has been forwarded to the Senate Transportation and Environmental Quality committees.
For bill status, call (916) 445-2323.

4/16/04-The Assembly Committee on Transportation approved a bill to expand current state law that fines California port terminals for making truckers sit and idle to include fines for port operators.
AB1971, sponsored by Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach would modify AB2650, which was signed into law in 2002. That law requires every marine terminal in the state to operate in a way that keeps trucks from idling any more than 30 minutes while waiting to load or unload.
Under the current law, marine terminal operators who try to divert trucks to freeways or staging areas away from the ports to avoid the restriction face an additional fine. It also prohibits the terminals from passing the cost of the fines on to truck owners and operators. Terminal operators could face a $250 fine for every truck left idling more than 30 minutes; if the terminal diverts the idling trucks, that fine expands to $750.
The law also requires each state air quality district to determine the level of monitoring and enforcement necessary based on the truck idling problem that exists within the district.
Under AB1971, those fines would expand to include terminals that make truckers “queue,” or wait in line. It would also expand the duties of air-quality districts to cover queuing trucks as well as idling ones.
The proposal now moves to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. For Assembly bill status, call (916) 445-2323.