Chapter 3Educational Provisions

Section § 15630

Explanation

This law explains how fines collected from violations related to leaving young children unattended in vehicles should be distributed by the county treasurer. Seventy percent of the fines go to the local health department to create and run education programs about the risks of leaving kids in cars. These health departments can either directly run these programs or hire someone to do it. They'll also keep a list of programs and inform the public and courts about them each year. Fifteen percent of the fines cover program administration costs, helping with financial management of the fine money. The remaining fifteen percent goes into the city’s or county’s general fund, depending on where the violation happened.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the fines collected for a violation of this division shall be allocated by the county treasurer, as follows:
(a)Copy CA Vehicle Code § 15630(a)
(1)Copy CA Vehicle Code § 15630(a)(1) Seventy percent to the county or city health department where the violation occurred, to be used for the development and implementation of community education programs on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles.
(2)CA Vehicle Code § 15630(a)(2) A county or city health department may develop and implement the community education program described in paragraph (1) or may contract for the development and implementation of that program.
(3)CA Vehicle Code § 15630(a)(3) As the proceeds from fines collected under this division become available, each county or city health department shall prepare and annually update a listing of community education programs that provide information on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles and ways to avoid that danger. The county or city health department shall forward the listing to the courts and shall make the listing available to the public, and may distribute it to other agencies or organizations.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 15630(b) Fifteen percent to the county or city for the administration of the program, from which will be paid the cost of the county to account for and disburse fine revenues.
(c)CA Vehicle Code § 15630(c) Fifteen percent to the city, to be deposited in its general fund except that, if the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this amount shall be deposited in the county’s general fund.
fines distribution leaving children unattended community education programs county health department city health department program administration costs general fund motor vehicle violations child safety in vehicles public information listings annual updates fine revenue management unincorporated areas education program contracting court listings
(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 855, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2002.)

Section § 15632

Explanation

This law mandates that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) must include information on the dangers of leaving children alone in cars in various educational materials they distribute. It highlights the issue of solar heat raising vehicle interior temperatures and the penalties for failing to comply with related laws. This information must be included in the California Driver’s Handbook, driver’s license tests, driver education materials, traffic violator school courses, and in community education campaigns. However, the DMV should only update materials once current supplies run out.

(a)CA Vehicle Code § 15632(a) The department shall include information concerning the dangers of leaving children unattended in motor vehicles, including, but not limited to, the effect of solar heat on the temperature of vehicle interiors and the penalties for noncompliance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15620), in the following materials distributed by the department:
(1)CA Vehicle Code § 15632(a)(1) The California Driver’s Handbook published under Section 1656.
(2)CA Vehicle Code § 15632(a)(2) The driver’s license examination administered under Section 12804.9, by including, on a rotating basis, at least one question in one version of the driver’s license examination that is periodically administered to applicants.
(3)CA Vehicle Code § 15632(a)(3) Any driver’s education materials certified by the department.
(4)CA Vehicle Code § 15632(a)(4) Courses and examinations for traffic violator schools.
(5)CA Vehicle Code § 15632(a)(5) Materials provided to secondary and postsecondary schools and educational institutions.
(6)CA Vehicle Code § 15632(a)(6) Any materials provided to community education campaigns undertaken by the department and other state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 15632(b) The department shall not republish materials before existing supplies are exhausted, but shall arrange for compliance with this section in the next edition or publication of those materials in the normal course of business.
dangers of leaving children in cars solar heat effect vehicle interior temperature penalties for noncompliance California Driver’s Handbook driver's license examination traffic violator schools driver’s education materials community education campaigns Department of Motor Vehicles Department of Transportation California Highway Patrol educational materials distribution safety information secondary and postsecondary schools
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 254, Sec. 9. (AB 174) Effective September 23, 2021.)