An act to amend Section 23109 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. An act to add Section 118.10 to the Streets and Highways Code, relating to the Department of Transportation.
Summary
AB 1168 is a two-part bill. First, it creates a special statute for a specific parcel in the City of Lynwood known as the Imperial Highway property. The bill would require the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to release and remove a deed restriction it placed on that property when it transferred the parcel to the city in 2016. The restriction required part of the property, the Alameda triangle property, to be used exclusively for public purposes for 15 years from the date of the deed. The bill includes legislative findings explaining that the parcel is unique and that a general statute would not be appropriate.
Second, the bill makes changes to Vehicle Code Section 23109 governing motor vehicle speed contests and exhibitions of speed. The amendments are described in the digest as technical and nonsubstantive, but the bill text also adds and clarifies several enforcement provisions related to speed contests, exhibitions of speed, aiding and abetting, barricades, vehicle impoundment, license suspension or restriction, probation conditions, and the definition of a “sideshow” or “street takeover.” The section would continue to be known as the Louis Friend Memorial Act.
Impact
The bill would affect state law in two distinct areas: state property transfer restrictions and traffic enforcement. In the Streets and Highways Code, it would direct Caltrans to remove a deed restriction on a specific Lynwood parcel, thereby freeing the City of Lynwood from a time-limited public-use requirement on part of the property. In the Vehicle Code, it would revise the statutory language governing speed contests and exhibitions of speed, including penalties and administrative consequences such as license restrictions, DMV notification, and vehicle impoundment. The bill is not an appropriation and is not identified as creating a fiscal committee impact.
Sentiment
The available record shows limited formal debate, because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included. The bill’s digest indicates a majority key vote, suggesting it had at least some support in committee. Overall, the measure appears to be framed as a targeted local property fix combined with a public-safety traffic enforcement update, which typically draws support from local government and anti-street-racing interests.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the special statute for the City of Lynwood. Because the bill singles out one parcel and requires Caltrans to waive a deed restriction, opponents could view it as preferential treatment or an exception to ordinary state property rules, while supporters would likely argue that the parcel’s circumstances are unique. A second possible area of concern is the street-racing portion of the bill, especially the expanded treatment of sideshows/street takeovers and the use of license suspensions, restrictions, and impoundment. Those provisions may be seen as strong enforcement tools, though the bill text characterizes the changes as technical and nonsubstantive in the digest.
An act to add and repeal Section 98 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to state highways. An act to amend Section 21104 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.