Section § 13020

Explanation

This section defines several important terms related to the operation and use of automated teller machines (ATMs) in California. 'Access area' refers to walkways within 50 feet of an ATM, not including public sidewalks. 'Access device' is defined per federal regulations and relates to electronic fund transfers. An 'automated teller machine' is any electronic device in California that handles cash transactions but excludes certain check-related devices. 'Candlefoot power' is a measure of light intensity relevant to ATM areas. 'Control' involves authority over how access areas are managed. A 'customer' is a person who has an access device for personal use. A 'defined parking area' is a parking area mainly used by ATM customers during nighttime hours and owned or controlled by the ATM operator. 'Hours of darkness' means the time from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Finally, 'operator' refers to entities that run ATMs, like banks and other financial institutions.

As used in this division:
(a)CA Financial Code § 13020(a) “Access area” means any paved walkway or sidewalk which is within 50 feet of an automated teller machine. The term does not include publicly maintained sidewalks or roads, as defined in Section 555 or Section 527 of the Vehicle Code.
(b)CA Financial Code § 13020(b) “Access device” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Federal Reserve Board Regulation E (12 C.F.R. Part 205), promulgated pursuant to the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(c)CA Financial Code § 13020(c) “Automated teller machine” means any electronic information processing device located in California which accepts or dispenses cash in connection with a credit, deposit, or convenience account. The term does not include devices used solely to facilitate check guarantees or check authorizations, or which are used in connection with the acceptance or dispensing of cash on a person-to-person basis, such as by a store cashier.
(d)CA Financial Code § 13020(d) “Candlefoot power” means the light intensity of candles on a horizontal plane at 36 inches above ground level and five feet in front of the area to be measured.
(e)CA Financial Code § 13020(e) “Control” of an access area or defined parking area means to have the present authority to determine how, when, and by whom it is to be used, and how it is to be maintained, lighted, and landscaped.
(f)CA Financial Code § 13020(f) “Customer” means a natural person to whom an access device has been issued for personal, family, or household use.
(g)CA Financial Code § 13020(g) “Defined parking area” means that portion of any parking area open for customer parking which is (1) contiguous to an access area with respect to an automated teller machine; (2) regularly, principally, and lawfully used for parking by users of the automated teller machine while conducting automated teller machine transactions during hours of darkness; and (3) owned or leased by the operator of the automated teller machine or owned or controlled by the party leasing the automated teller machine site to the operator. The term does not include any parking area which is not open or regularly used for parking by users of the automated teller machine who are conducting automated teller machine transactions during hours of darkness. A parking area is not open if it is physically closed to access or if conspicuous signs indicate that it is closed. If a multiple level parking area satisfies the conditions of this subdivision and would therefore otherwise be a defined parking area, only the single parking level deemed by the operator of the automated teller machine to be the most directly accessible to the users of the automated teller machine shall be a defined parking area.
(h)CA Financial Code § 13020(h) “Hours of darkness” means the period that commences 30 minutes after sunset and ends 30 minutes before sunrise.
(i)CA Financial Code § 13020(i) “Operator” means any bank, savings association, credit union, industrial loan company, savings bank, or other business entity, or any person who operates an automated teller machine.