AB 73: Vehicles: required stops: bicycles.

Existing law requires the driver of any vehicle, including a person riding a bicycle, when approaching a stop sign at the entrance of an intersection, to stop before entering the intersection. A violation of this requirement is an infraction.

This bill would require a person who is 18 years of age or older riding a bicycle upon a two-lane highway when approaching a stop sign at the entrance of an intersection with another roadway with two or fewer lanes, where stop signs are erected upon all approaches, to yield the right-of-way to any vehicles that have either stopped at or entered the intersection, or that are approaching on the intersecting highway close enough to constitute an immediate hazard, and to pedestrians, as specified, and continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles and pedestrians until reasonably safe to proceed. The bill would require other vehicles to yield the right-of-way to a bicycle that, having yielded as prescribed, has entered the intersection. The bill would state that these provisions do not affect the liability of a driver of a motor vehicle as a result of the drivers negligent or wrongful act or omission in the operation of a motor vehicle. The bill would impose a warning citation for a first violation by a person who is under 18 years of age and fails to stop when approaching a stop sign at the entrance of an intersection.

The bill would also require the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to submit a report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding the effects of this bill.

These provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2031.

By changing the elements of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.