On Jan. 1, 2018, hundreds of new laws will go into effect in California, and they will impact every citizen in our state. Here’s a look at 10 important new California laws for 2018 that you need to know.
10. AB 1008: Ban-the-Box Criminal History on Applications
Companies with five or more employees are now prohibited from asking about a potential employee’s criminal history on job applications. Inquiring about or considering criminal history at any time 
before a conditional offer of employment has been made is now illegal under Government Code 12952.
9. AB 693: Ammunition Sales
All ammunition purchases in California must be conducted in person through a vendor licensed by the Department of Justice, according to PC 30312. Transferring ammunition must also be done through a licensed dealer. Gun owners will be prohibited from importing ammunition through means such as online sales from outside California without the ammunition first going through a licensed California vendor.
8. AB 7: Open Carry Guns
This new law closes a loophole in existing law. Under PC 26400, gun owners are prohibited from carrying unloaded shotguns or rifles in unincorporated areas of a county where it is unlawful to discharge a firearm.
7. SB 500: Sexual Extortion
Current extortion laws under PC 518 have been expanded to punish offenders who commit “sextortion.” This act happens when you obtain sexually explicit images of a person and threaten to distribute them unless the person in the images provides payment, more sexually explicit images or performs future sexual acts.
6. SB 20: Commercial Bus Seatbelts Required
Passengers and drivers of commercial buses will be required to wear seatbelts in 2018. However, this law will not actually take effect until July 2018.
Violating this law will result in a minimum $20 fine under Vehicle Code Section 27318.
5. SB 597: Safe at Home
The Safe at Home program provides victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking with a free P.O. box, mail-forwarding service or a confidential address as protection from their offenders. The amended version of Government Code 6205 now extends those privileges to sex trafficking victims.
4. SB 396: Harassment Prevention Training Expanded
Under Government Code 12950, companies with 50 or more employees must include discussion of harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in supervisor harassment training, which must be provided every two years.
Employers are also required to display a poster on transgender rights that will be developed by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
3. AB 450: Worksite Immigration Enforcement
This law protects workers from immigration enforcement while on the job. Under Government Code 7285, employers are prohibited from providing immigration agents access to non-public areas of a worksite without a judicial warrant. Employers are also prohibited from providing immigration agents access to employee records without a subpoena or judicial warrant.
2. Prop 64: Recreational Use of Marijuana
Perhaps the most important new California law for 2018 is that retail sales of recreational marijuana will be legalized. Anybody in California age 21 or older can buy up to one ounce of marijuana and .28 ounces of concentrated cannabis.
1. SB 65: Marijuana Use in Cars
To address the widespread legalization of marijuana, lawmakers amended Vehicle Code Section 23220 and 23221 to include marijuana. These laws make it illegal to smoke or ingest marijuana while driving or while riding as a passenger in a vehicle.
Contact the Criminal Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich Today
If you or a loved has been accused of a crime, you should seek the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 35 years of experience successfully defending clients facing criminal charges. Let us help you now.
With offices in Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Victorville, West Covina, Torrance, Los Angeles and San Diego, you can find an experienced Wallin & Klarich criminal defense attorney available near you no matter where you are located.
Call our office today at (888) 280-6839 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.
