SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The California Highway Patrol is spotlighting new transportation safety laws set to take effect in 2026. Many of these laws aim to lower speed limits in areas such as school zones and certain roadways, empowering the Department of Transportation to decrease speed limits by five miles per hour and enforce stricter measures against speeding on state highways.
New regulations regarding e-bikes will also be emphasized in 2026, allowing authorities to impound bicycles classified as class three electric bicycles if the operator is under 16 years old. Additionally, new safety provisions will require helmets and reflectors for these bicycles.
The complete list of laws from CHP is detailed below:
Crimes: Burglary Tools (AB 486, Lackey)
Assembly Bill 486 makes it a misdemeanor to possess a key programming device, a key duplicating device, or a signal extender intending to commit burglary. Offenders may face up to six months in county jail, fines up to $1,000, or a combination of both. This bill expands the existing law by including these three tools in the category of items that cannot be possessed with the intent to commit burglary.
ELECTRIC BICYCLE SAFETY
Electric Bicycles: Required Equipment (AB 544, Davies)
Assembly Bill 544 requires electric bicycles to have a red reflector or a solid or flashing red light with a built-in reflector at the rear during all operational hours, not just in darkness as previously mandated.
This bill also permits the CHP-developed online electric bicycle safety and training program to satisfy safety course requirements for minors who receive a helmet violation involving electric bicycles.
Off-highway Electric Motorcycles (SB 586, Jones)
Senate Bill 586 defines an “off-highway electric motorcycle” or “eMoto” as a vehicle that:
- Is designed primarily for off-highway use
- Is powered by an electric motor that does not require a motor number
- Has handlebars for steering, a manufacturer-provided straddle seat, and two wheels
- Is not equipped with manufacturer-provided pedals
This bill classifies an off-highway electric motorcycle as an off-highway motor vehicle (OHV), subject to corresponding rules and regulations. This includes a stipulation that individuals operating an OHV must wear a safety helmet and that each unregistered OHV must display an identification plate or device issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Pedestrian Safety: School Zones: Speed Limits (AB 382, Berman)
Assembly Bill 382 permits local governments to lower school zone speed limits from 25 to 20 miles per hour via ordinance or resolution until January 1, 2031. After this date, the speed limit will automatically reduce from 25 to 20 miles per hour in school zones once appropriate signage is installed.
SPEED ENFORCEMENT
State Highway Work Zone Speed Safety Program (AB 289, Haney)
Assembly Bill 289 empowers the Department of Transportation to launch a work zone speed safety system pilot program. This program will utilize fixed or mobile radar or laser systems to identify speeding violations and capture clear photographs of vehicle license plates. Citations will be dispatched to the vehicle’s registered owner with specified guidelines for program implementation, citation issuance, review, and appeal.
Vehicles: Highway Safety (AB 390, Wilson)
Assembly Bill 390 broadens the “slow down and move over” law to cover any highway maintenance vehicle or stationary vehicle displaying flashing hazard lights or warning devices like cones and road flares. Drivers approaching such vehicles must either switch to a lane not adjacent to the stopped vehicle or reduce speed to a safe level if lane changes are not feasible.
Traffic Safety: Speed Limits (AB 1014, Rogers)
Assembly Bill 1014 allows the Department of Transportation to reduce a speed limit by five miles per hour on highways and mandates warning citations during the initial 30 days following a speed limit decrease.
VEHICLE STORAGE
Vehicle Removal (AB 875, Muratsuchi)
Assembly Bill 875 grants peace officers the authority to impound a vehicle for at least 48 hours if it has fewer than four wheels, does not fit the definition of an electric bicycle, and is powered by an electric motor capable of propelling the vehicle over 20 MPH on a highway without a licensed operator, or if it is a class 3 electric bicycle operated by an individual under 16. A safety course may be mandated as a condition for release if the impound involves a minor under 16 operating a class 3 electric bike as outlined in Section 312.5 of the Vehicle Code.
2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The following public safety laws were passed during the 2024 legislative session and will be enacted in 2026:
Electric Bicycles, Powered Mobility Devices and Storage Batteries (SB 1271, Min)
Effective January 1, 2026, Senate Bill 1271 aims to enhance safety standards for electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and associated lithium-ion batteries. It mandates that these devices and their components, including batteries and charging systems, undergo testing by accredited laboratories to meet defined safety standards. The bill also requires labeling of these products to indicate compliance with safety regulations, ensuring consumer awareness. Moreover, it prohibits the distribution, sale, or lease of e-bikes and related equipment unless they adhere to these standards, thereby mitigating risks such as fire hazards and electrical failures. As of January 1, 2028, the bill will prohibit renting or offering for rent an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system, or storage battery unless they have been tested to meet the specified safety standards.
Autonomous Vehicles (AB 1777, Ting)
Contingent upon the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) implementing necessary regulations, AB 1777 establishes new authority for law enforcement officers to issue a “notice of autonomous vehicle (AV) noncompliance” to an AV manufacturer for traffic violations attributed to one of their vehicles. Starting July 1, 2026, AB 1777 also sets additional requirements regarding how AVs that operate without a human operator onboard interact with first responders, including a stipulation for manufacturers to equip these vehicles with a two-way communication device for interaction with first responders.
