Summertime blues over bad bills out of Sacramento

The California Legislature continues raining down on us hundreds of bills we don’t need.

Here are four, all signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Last year the Legislature passed Senate Bill 478, by state Sen. Bill Dodd, R-Napa. It banned charges revealed only when you get the bill from restaurants, lodging, event ticket sellers, etc. 

Click here to SUBSCRIBE to CA Political Review 

This year Senate Bill 1524, also by Dodd, modified SB 478 to allow such fees at restaurants, provided the levies are disclosed on menus and other displays. It passed unanimously in both the Senate and Assembly. Matthew Sutton, senior legislative director at the California Restaurant Association, backed the bill because “consumers will remain empowered to make informed choices about where they choose to dine out.”

I find these charges as annoying as everybody. But the last thing we need is more busybody bills. There already was a remedy: Tell the manager you don’t like the hidden fees and won’t return until they’re removed.

The Republican brand ought to be opposing all new taxes and regulations, not sponsoring them. They also lost an opportunity to blame the inflation sparking these fees on Democrats.

Assembly Bill 1013, by Assemblyman Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, was passed last year and went into effect on July 1. It makes bars and clubs sell “drug testing devices” to detect such “date rape” drugs as “flunitrazepam, ketamine, and gamma hydroxybutyric acid.” And the establishments must post conspicuous signs with this exact wording: “Don’t get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details.”

This one effectively turns bartenders into FDA experts giving “details” on these devices. Expect lawsuits.

California Penal Code Section 261(a)(3) already defines rape as including: “Where a person is prevented from resisting by any intoxicating or anesthetic substance, or any controlled substance, and this condition was known, or reasonably should have been known by the accused.”

Alcohol, the main reason for going to a bar, also is an “intoxicating or anesthetic substance.” It’s use in this state is banned to those under 21. Anyone going into a bar legally is an adult who ought to know what he or she is doing. Such persons also can purchase “drug testing devices” on their own.

Do we have to nanny everybody?

Click here to read the full article in the OC Register