News

California passes legislation encouraging protective barriers

August 1, 2016

California became the first state in the nation to pass legislation that encourages the use of protective barriers at vulnerable locations including parking lots, retail centers, office buildings, and restaurants. 

The legislation, written by Assemblyman Bill Quirk of the California Assembly (D-20), passed the Assembly and the Senate with no dissenting votes and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on July 22nd. AB2161 provides that the use of particular vehicle barriers at a commercial property can be considered as safety devices by insurers and qualify for a discount on the owner's insurance premiums. 

The new law defines an appropriate barrier as something "that is installed to protect persons located within, in, or on the property of, buildings, or to protect pedestrians, from collisions into those buildings by motor vehicles."