(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Bus” means a vehicle designed, used, or maintained for carrying more than 10 persons, including the driver, which is used to transport persons for compensation or profit.
(2) “Limousine” means any sedan or sport utility vehicle, of either standard or extended length, with a seating capacity of not more than 10 passengers including the driver, used in the transportation of passengers for hire on a prearranged basis within this state, and includes a modified limousine as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 1042.
(3) “Peace officer” means a person who is designated as a peace officer pursuant to Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code.
(b) A peace officer may, with respect to a passenger stage corporation, enforce and assist in the enforcement of Sections 2110 and 2112, resulting from a violation of Section 1031, 1041, or 1045, or more than one of those sections. A peace officer may additionally enforce and assist in the enforcement of Sections 1034.5 and 2119. In any case in which an arrest authorized by this subdivision is made for an offense declared to be a misdemeanor, and the person arrested does not demand to be taken before a magistrate, the arresting peace officer may, instead of taking such person before a magistrate, follow the procedure prescribed by Chapter 5C (commencing with Section 853.5) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code. The provisions of that chapter shall thereafter apply with reference to any proceeding based upon the issuance of a citation pursuant to this authority.
(c) A peace officer may impound a bus or limousine operated by a passenger stage corporation pursuant to Section 14602.9 of the Vehicle Code if the peace officer determines that any of the following violations occurred while the driver was operating the vehicle:
(1) The driver was operating the bus or limousine when the passenger stage corporation did not have a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the commission as required pursuant to this article.
(2) The driver was operating the bus or limousine when the operating rights or certificate of public convenience and necessity of a passenger stage corporation was suspended, canceled, or revoked pursuant to Section 1033.5, 1033.7, or 1045.
(3) The driver was operating the bus or limousine without having a current and valid driver’s license of the proper class.
(d) The commission shall coordinate enforcement of this section with those peace officers likely to be involved in enforcing this section, including undertaking both of the following:
(1) Educational outreach to promote awareness among those peace officers about the requirements of Sections 1031, 1034.5, 1041, 1045, 2110, 2112, and 2119.
(2) Establishing lines of communication so that the commission is notified if an action is commenced to enforce the requirements of those sections specified in subdivision (b), so that the commission may take appropriate action to enforce the fine and penalty provisions of Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 2100).
(e) The Legislature finds and declares that this section is intended to facilitate and enhance the commission’s performance of its functions pursuant to Section 2101 and not diminish the commission’s authority or responsibility pursuant to that section.
(f) This section does not authorize the impoundment of privately owned personal vehicles that are not common carriers nor the impoundment of vehicles used in transportation for compensation by charter-party carriers of passengers that are not required to carry individual permits.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 842, Sec. 41. (SB 1222) Effective January 1, 2017.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018