Locals win 'Oughta Be A Law' contest Locals win 'Oughta Be A Law' contest (February 04, 2004)

Preventing car accidents and holding oil companies accountable for gas prices -- these are the goals of local residents who hope to see their ideas become California law.

The residents are the latest winners of state Assemblyman Joe Simitian's annual "There Oughta Be A Law" contest.

This year, Mr. Simitian, D-Palo Alto, received 231 ideas submitted by residents around the state, his staff reported. He chose three proposals to pursue, including that of Menlo Park resident Evelyn Berk. She suggested a law that requires drivers to turn on their headlights whenever they switch on their windshield wipers in conditions of poor visibility.

Ms. Berk said she got the idea for the law while visiting relatives in Alabama and noting that such a law existed there.

When drivers switch on their lights on rainy days, she said, "You're really aware of them. ... I think everybody needs to be aware that this could be a safety hazard."

Cupertino resident Mary Lou Lyon submitted the same idea independently, Mr. Simitian's staff reported.

Another local winner is Woodside High School senior Aaron Thomas Woolway, who is concerned about the high price of gasoline and proposed a requirement that representatives from the major oil companies explain their pricing criteria to the Assembly's Select Committee on Gasoline Competition, Marketing and Pricing.

Palo Alto Police Detective Wayne Benitez and Lt. Ronald Lawrence also had their idea selected by Mr. Simitian. The two had seen many problems with young students abusing over-the-counter cold medicines, and proposed prohibiting the sale of medicines containing dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) to anyone under 18 without a prescription.

Mr. Simitian has submitted that proposal and "Wipers On/Lights On" as Assembly bills, and the gasoline pricing idea will be the subject of a resolution seeking legislative hearings on the issue.

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