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9-A Legislative Bill Action ................................ ............................... The following are summaries of just a few of the legislative bills that are currently being acted upon by the League of California Cities. For more information about these and other bills, please visit the League website's new "Issues and Advocacy" page (www.cacities.ontl issussandadvocacv) — a one -stop location to access information about legislation, policy issues' and related developments. You can track information on bills ( www. cacities.org/legislativesearch), locate legislators and legislative committees, send letters to legislators or the media through the online Advocacy Center, research League policy positions, access useful related links, and much more. TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS AB 299 (Lowenthal). Vehicles. Taxicabs and Passenger Vehicles for Hire. Violations: Im- poundment. AS 299 requires a magistrate pre- sented with the affidavit of a peace officer estab- lishing reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle is being operated as a taxicab or other passenger vehicle for hire in violation of licensing require- ments adopted by a local authority to issue a warrant or order authorizing any peace officer to immediately seize and cause the removal of the vehicle. AS 299 authorizes a vehicle to be im- pounded for 30 days. Currently, cities lack the legal authority to hold impounded unlicensed taxicabs for an adequate period of time. As a result, unlicensed taxicabs are immediately reused and these unlicensed taxicabs endanger the public. AB 299 will provide a state code empowering local authorities to impose up to a 30 day impound. Supporters of AB 299 include the City of Los Angeles and Taxicab Paratransit Association of California (TPAC). Staff: Natasha Fooman, Status: AsTrans; Passed Committee Ayes 16, Position: Support. AB 365 (Jerome Horton). Department of Motor Vehicle Records. Access By City Attor- neys. AB 365 grants city attorneys phone access to certain Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records. Specifically, AB 365 adds city attorneys who are prosecuting criminal actions to the list of those who are granted access, including via tele- phone, to DMV records that are open to the public. AB 365 also deems the office of a city attorney engaged in the prosecution of criminal actions to be a law enforcement entity, for the purpose of obtaining entity requester code from DMV. Support- ers of AB 365 include the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and the California District Attor- neys Association. Staff: Natasha Fooman, Status: Re- referred to AsApps; 4/8, Position: Support. AB 377 (Chan). Vehicles. Exhaust Systems. Modification. AB 377 prohibits a motor vehicle from being operated with an exhaust pipe equipped with a device that modifies or amplifies the noise emitted from the vehicle, as specified. AB 377 makes it a misdemeanor for a person to engage in the business of selling or installing these unlawful devices. A "whistle tip" is a device applied to the end of a vehicle's tailpipe, which makes the vehicle, emit a piercing, high - pitched shriek when driven. It is thought that the first appliances were homemade devices made by driveway mechanics working on their own vehicles. But now, some local muffler shops carry a wide variety of styles. AB 377 aims to reduce or eliminate the noise pollution that daily assaults those who live in an urban environment due to the installation of "whistle tip" devices. Support: City of Oakland. Staff: Natasha Fooman, Status: Re- referred to AsApps; 4/8, Position: Support. AB 625 (Spitzer). Vehicles. Towing. Storage Charge. AB 625 requires a storage facility opera- tor or keeper who holds a vehicle that is placed in storage following its removal to, upon the demand of the registered owner or the owner's agent, release the vehicle within one hour of that demand if made during the facility's business hours or within two hours of that demand if made during non - business hours of the facility. AB 625 prohibits a Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 9