New laws target street racing, reckless driving in California

California is rolling out new driving laws in 2025 to make roads safer from street takeovers and reckless driving. These laws cover everything from cracking down on street racers to sprucing up highways and letting people see what their tax dollars are being spent on.

Police are getting more power to address those wild street takeovers - they can now tow cars and give bigger fines. The laws will apply to reckless driving activities on highways and in parking lots.

Another law, AB2111, will prohibit the alteration of license plate reflective coatings to evade electronic capture. This measure is intended to improve enforcement of traffic violations detectable by cameras. 

To address vehicle-related crime, SB905 introduces increased penalties for possessing items stolen from vehicles with intent to resell. Thieves who steal from cars can now be prosecuted whether the car was locked or not.

There’s also something new coming to Malibu - they're putting up five speed cameras on Pacific Coast Highway to catch reckless drivers. SB1297 will allow Malibu to install up to five automated speed enforcement cameras to reduce speeding, particularly in high-risk areas like school zones. This pilot program will focus on promoting traffic safety by automatically detecting vehicles exceeding speed limits and issuing fines.

Another law – SB960 – is set to enhance California’s state highway system by requiring Caltrans to incorporate complete streets elements, including bike lanes, sidewalks, and transit facilities, into its planning and projects. 

AB2086 will work on ensuring that Californians can see the impact of their transportation dollars by requiring Caltrans to publicly report how projects align with efforts to improve safety, plan for a changing climate, and serve all communities.

All these new rules are part of California's push to make getting around safer and fairer for everyone, while keeping an eye on where the money goes.