Transportation law changes hazardous-material rules and traffic-camera appeals

The Alameda County Transportation Commission may file an amendment to the Route 238 local transportation program. The amendment concerns the program for transportation projects in Alameda County related to the unbuilt State Highway Route 238 facility in Hayward and Alameda County. The city councils of Hayward and San Leandro and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors must approve the amendment before it is filed. A removed or reprioritized project must include the reason for the change and explain whether its original need has been or will be addressed. An added project must be included in the applicable regional transportation plan. The California Transportation Commission has final authority to approve the amendment. The commission may approve an amendment to a program that was submitted before July 1, 2010, despite the general deadline for approving new programs.

Pilot licensing, insurance, indemnity, and related vessel rules apply to transit within the Ports of Sacramento and Stockton. The change covers vessels hiring a state-licensed pilot for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun, including transit to, from, or within the pilotage grounds. A vessel, owner, operator, or bareboat charterer must either defend and indemnify the pilot or give written notice at least 24 hours before requesting service that it will pay for trip insurance. The trip insurance option requires the pilot to arrange coverage and charge the premium to the vessel. The indemnity and claim restrictions do not apply to a pilot's willful misconduct. The rule applies to any part of a covered vessel transit that occurs within the Ports of Sacramento or Stockton.

Motor carriers, drivers, vehicles, and shippers must comply with specified federal hazardous-material rules for highway transportation. The requirement covers all motor carriers, drivers, vehicles, and shippers subject to the Vehicle Code's motor-carrier provisions. The rules apply whether or not the person or business is otherwise subject to the federal regulations. The state transportation department may create specific exemptions through its regulations. The requirement does not apply to hazardous-material transportation by a federal government agency.

Local agencies must disclose the number of violations issued by automated traffic-camera programs, and contestants may appeal final decisions in superior court. The changes cover automated traffic-signal enforcement programs and people contesting notices issued under those programs. Photographs, videos, and other program records remain confidential except for authorized uses, impact review, and disclosure of the number of violations issued. A contestant must file the superior-court appeal within 30 days after delivery or mailing of the final decision. The court hears the appeal anew, and the filing fee is handled under the Government Code. The 30-day appeal period begins when the final decision is personally delivered or mailed.