From higher gas taxes to forgiving some late penalties on bridge tolls, a host of new California laws and regulations took effect July 1. Many of the changes primarily impact motorists. Here are four key measures.
California drivers started paying 4 cents more per gallon in gas taxes over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The increase reflects the state’s annual inflationary adjustment to the gas tax, which increased by about 7%, from 53.9 cents per gallon to 57.9 cents per gallon.
Drivers will now pay about 52 cents more to refuel a typical sedan, with a 13-gallon tank, from empty. The tax is built into the price of gas in the Golden State, which was hovering around $4.84 per gallon on average on Monday — about $1.46 less per gallon than this time last year. Republicans tried to block the inflationary increase from going into effect but were unsuccessful.
Oil company profits
Speaking of soaring prices at the pump and oil company profits, a new state law designed to increase oversight of the fossil-fuel industry also took effect last week.
The law, pushed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, gives state energy regulators the authority to place a cap on oil refiners’ profits in California — and to set the amount. They also now have the authority to fine companies that exceed the cap and require them to disclose information about their operations and prices. Newsom’s office said the provisions requiring companies to share additional data about the oil market and their profit margins took effect June 26. The law also created a new state entity, the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight, to keep tabs on the industry.
Bridge toll fees
Drivers can have penalty fees waived for unpaid Bay Area bridge and express lane tolls if they settle their debts starting July 1. Low-income people can pay their tolls using an installment plan. Previously, people who didn’t have an electronic FasTrak pass had to pay online once they received a mailed invoice, or face hundreds of dollars in fines. In some cases, people were charged fees even though the invoices were sent to the wrong addresses, according to the office of Assembly Member Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, who wrote the new law.
People can call the Bay Area Toll Authority at 877-BAY-TOLL to settle their debts with the agency.
Gun company liability
Firearm manufacturers now face a greater risk of litigation if they don’t operate responsibly and if the weapons they sell are used to commit crimes in the state.
The measure, AB1594, also by Ting, makes gunmakers liable if they sell assault weapons and do not take “reasonable” steps to ensure those weapons are not used for illegal purposes in California. It also allows people to sue gunmakers over marketing that targets children or encourages people to use their products for illegal purposes in California.
Under the new cause of action, victims of gun violence, the state attorney general and local governments can sue companies that manufacture and sell firearms if their unlawful conduct causes harm.
Reach Dustin Gardiner: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @dustingardiner; reach Sophia Bollag: sophia.bollag@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @SophiaBollag
