New year brings bigger fines, fees for drivers New year brings bigger fines, fees for drivers (January 07, 2004)

Steeper fines, higher DMV fees and a prohibition against watching video monitors while driving are among a number of new state laws affecting motorists as of January 1.

Parking illegally in a disabled space will now cost scofflaws an additional $100, says the American Automobile Association (AAA), which is trying to get the word out to California drivers.

Fines for going without seatbelts could go up by as much as $38 under a law that allows court costs to be added in, said AAA spokesman Sean Comey.

At the DMV, driver's license fees have risen from $15 to $24, duplicate licenses cost $19 instead of $12, and vehicle registration went up $3 to $31.

New laws require manufacturers to disclose whether vehicles are equipped with "black box" recording devices and specifies when the information they contain may be retrieved, and require local governments to retain control over cameras that catch red light-runners, addressing public concerns that the cameras are being manipulated for profit, Mr. Comey said.

Apparently, the existing law prohibiting drivers from watching television while behind the wheel wasn't specific enough -- a new law prohibits watching video monitors or screens while driving.

One law that safety experts advise motorists to obey before it goes into effect in January 2005 requires that children under the age of 6 weighing less than 60 pounds sit in a booster seat or other child restraint system in the vehicle's back seat. Following the guidelines immediately will prevent injuries and save lives, said Mr. Comey.

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