New ERA Article February, 2002

New California Laws
Effective January, 2002

               Each year, the California Legislature enacts many laws which become effective on January 1 of the following year. The following are a few of the more interesting laws which took effect on January 1, 2002:

               If you leave a child under the age of 6 unsupervised in a vehicle with the engine running, keys in the ignition, or allow some other significant risk to the child’s safety, you will now be subject to a $100 fine. [SB 255] The impetus for this law was the death of a six month old child who was left in a van on a hot summer day by a babysitter.

               If a premarital settlement agreement deals with spousal support, the agreement cannot be enforced if the spouse did not have an independent lawyer at the time the agreement was signed. [SB 78]

               Employers are presently required to make reasonable efforts to provide a work break and an appropriate room, other than a toilet stall or broom closet, for lactating mothers to pump breast milk. [AB 1025]

               If you register, as a domain name on the Internet, the name of a political opponent to set up a phony website or to resell the site for financial gain, you are now perpetrating a crime. [SB 412]

               The Department of Justice is required, by January 1, 2003, to establish a “do not call” list of Californians who do not wish to receive unsolicited pitches from telemarketers. After the institution of this list, violators will be subject to a $1,500 fine per call. [SB 771]

               If family members wish to erect roadside signs in memory of a victim of a drunk or drugged driver, they may now do so. The signs will set forth the victim’s name and the message “Please don’t drink and drive.” [AB 965]

               Employers in California cannot require that only English be spoken in the workplace unless they have a justifiable business reason. [AB 800]

               Abandoning an unwanted pet on a highway is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or a six month jail term, or both. A new law requires the posting of signs at entry points by highway to California warning of the law. [SB 237]

               Uninsured motorist coverage has been extended to policyholders injured by their own vehicle when the vehicle is used without the policyholder’s permission during the commission of a crime, such as car jacking. The motorist must, however, file a police report to obtain the coverage. [SB 81]

               Don't even think that the State Legislature has exhausted its interest in passing new California laws. Wait 'til next year!


[This column is intended to provide general information only  and
is  not intended to provide specific legal advice; if you have  a
specific  question  regarding the  law,  you  should  contact  an
attorney  of your choice.  Suggestions for topics to be discussed
in this column are welcome.]


Reprinted from New Era Magazine
Myles M. Mattenson © 2002

	Myles M. Mattenson ATTORNEY AT LAW 5550 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Suite 200 Woodland Hills, California 91367 Telephone (818) 313-9060 Facsimile (818) 313-9260 *Email:* MMM@MattensonLaw.com *Web:* http://www.MattensonLaw.com	New California Laws Effective January, 2002
Myles M. Mattenson engages in a general civil and trial practice including litigation and transactional services relating to the coin laundry and dry cleaning industries, franchising, business, purchase and sale of real estate, easements, landlord-tenant, partnership, corporate, insurance bad faith, personal injury, and probate legal matters. In providing services to the coin laundry and dry cleaning industries, Mr. Mattenson has represented equipment distributors, coin laundry and dry cleaning business owners confronted with landlord-tenant issues, lease negotiations, sale documentation including agreements, escrow instructions, and security instruments, as well as fraud or misrepresentation controversies between buyers and sellers of such businesses. Mr. Mattenson serves as an Arbitrator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is also past chair of the Law Office Management Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Mattenson received his Bachelor of Science degree (Accounting) in 1964 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1967. Bi-monthly articles by Mr. Mattenson on legal matters of interest to the business community appear in alternate months in The Journal, a leading coin laundry industry publication of the Coin Laundry Association, and Fabricare, a leading dry cleaning industry publication of the International Fabricare Institute. During the period of May 1995 through September 2002, Mr. Mattenson contributed similar articles to New Era Magazine, a coin laundry and dry cleaning industry publication which ceased publication with the September 2002 issue. This website contains copies of Mr. Mattenson's New Era Magazine articles which can be retrieved through a subject or chronological index. The website also contains copies of Mr. Mattenson's Journal and Fabricare articles, which can be retrieved through a chronological index. In addition to Mr. Mattenson's trial practice, he has successfully prosecuted and defended appeals on behalf of his clients in various areas of the law. Some of these appellate decisions are contained within his website.