Did you ever wonder whether you were allowed to park in a space that had a broken meter? Well, wonder no more!

A bill by Assemblyman Mike Gatto that went into effect on January 1 of this year, allows motorists to park in spaces controlled by a broken meter for the maximum time allowed by the meter. The bill, AB 61, guarantees that parking spots remain available to the motorists, shop owners, and small businesses that rely on them, even when the meter is not working properly. 

Also beginning on January 1, 2014 are new laws governing teen driving (teen drivers are no longer allowed to write, send or read texts behind the wheel, even if they are using a hands-free device) as well as the relationship between drivers and bicyclists (drivers must now provide at least three feet of distance between cars and cyclists while passing). In addition, transgender students in California grade school are now permitted to use bathrooms and join school athletic teams that match their gender identity, even if it is different than their gender at birth.