The last we heard about Ricardo Lara’s monumental street vending regulation bill, SB-946, it had been sent up to the full assembly from the Committee on Local Government with a “do pass” recommendation. This was in June, just before the legislature adjourned for the entire month of July. Things have been pretty quiet with respect to this bill lately, and I admit that I was getting a little worried that really destructive amendments were in the works.1
But it turns out, or at least it appears, that all is well. Yesterday the bill was amended, but the changes were fairly unsubstantial. There were a number of stylistic adjustments and a separate fine schedule was added for people who vend without a permit in cities which do have a permitting process in place. Given the fact that Los Angeles has been arguing about permitting vendors for decades without being able to arrive at an actual process, none of this is likely to apply here.
The bill was then ordered to the Assembly floor for a third and final reading before a vote. I don’t know enough about the legislature to figure out when that might happen, but my feeling is that it’s likely to pass as currently written, since they ought to have worked out all the kinks by now, eh? Then it’s up to the governor, and I have no idea what he’ll do with it. Maybe organized opposition by zillionaires and their sleazy advocates has more weight with him than it’s had with the legislature so far?
I don’t know, but turn the page for a transcription of the section on fines with the newly added material in blue.
51039. (a) (1) A violation of a local authority’s sidewalk vending program that complies with Section 51038 is punishable only by the following:
(A) An administrative fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for a first violation.
(B) An administrative fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) for a second violation within one year of the first violation.
(C) An administrative fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for each additional violation within one year of the first violation.
(2) A local authority may rescind a permit issued to a sidewalk vendor for the term of that permit upon the fourth violation or subsequent violations.
(3) (A) If a local authority requires a sidewalk vendor to obtain a sidewalk vending permit from the local authority, vending without a sidewalk vending permit may be punishable by the following in lieu of the administrative fines set forth in paragraph (1):
(i) An administrative fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for a first violation.
(ii) An administrative fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for a second violation within one year of the first violation.
(iii) An administrative fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each additional violation within one year of the first violation.
(B) Upon proof of a valid permit issued by the local authority, the administrative fines set forth in this paragraph shall be reduced to the administrative fines set forth in paragraph (1), respectively.
(b) The proceeds of an administrative fine assessed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be deposited in the treasury of the local authority.
(c) Failure to pay an administrative fine pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be punishable as an infraction or misdemeanor. Additional fines, fees, assessments, or any other financial conditions beyond those authorized in subdivision (a) shall not be assessed.
(d) (1) A violation of a local authority’s sidewalk vending program that complies with Section 51038, or a violation of any rules or regulations adopted prior to January 1, 2019, that regulate or prohibit sidewalk vendors in the jurisdiction of a local authority, shall not be punishable as an infraction or misdemeanor, and the person alleged to have violated any of those provisions shall not be subject to arrest except when permitted under law.
(2) Notwithstanding any other law, paragraph (1) shall apply to all pending criminal prosecutions under any local ordinance or resolution regulating or prohibiting sidewalk vendors. Any of those criminal prosecutions that have not reached final judgment shall be dismissed.
(e) A local authority that has not adopted rules or regulations by ordinance or resolution that comply with Section 51037 shall not cite, fine, or prosecute a sidewalk vendor for a violation of any rule or regulation that is inconsistent with the standards described in subdivision (b) Section 51038.
(f) (1) When assessing an administrative fine pursuant to subdivision (a), the adjudicator shall take into consideration the person’s ability to pay the fine. The local authority shall provide the person with notice of his or her right to request an ability-to-pay determination and shall make available instructions or other materials for requesting an ability-to-pay determination. The person may request an ability-to-pay determination at adjudication or while the judgment remains unpaid, including when a case is delinquent or has been referred to a comprehensive collection program.
(2) If the person meets the criteria described in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 68632, the local authority shall accept, in full satisfaction, 20 percent of the administrative fine imposed pursuant to subdivision (a).
(3) The local authority may allow the person to complete community service in lieu of paying the total administrative fine, may waive the administrative fine, or may offer an alternative disposition.
(g) (1) A person who is currently serving, or who completed, a sentence, or who is subject to a fine, for a conviction of a misdemeanor or infraction for sidewalk vending, whether by trial or by open or negotiated plea, who would not have been guilty of that offense under the act that added this section had that act been in effect at the time of the offense, may petition for dismissal of the sentence, fine, or conviction before the trial court that entered the judgment of conviction in his or her case.
(2) Upon receiving a petition under paragraph (1), the court shall presume the petitioner satisfies the criteria in paragraph (1) unless the party opposing the petition proves by clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner does not satisfy the criteria. If the petitioner satisfies the criteria in paragraph (1), the court shall grant the petition to dismiss the sentence or fine, if applicable, and dismiss and seal the conviction, because the sentence, fine, and conviction are legally invalid.
Image of Ricardo Lara is ©2018 MichaelKohlhaas.Org. It’s based on this Ricardo Lara here and the words accompanying it are a slight paraphrase from a very, very amazing speech by Martin Luther King.
- We have seen before how last minute amendments can completely gut a bill, as happened to last year’s ill-fated CPRA reform bill with the corrupt and unprincipled assistance of weirdo assemblylizard Miguel Santiago.
