In recent years, the debate about the legality of riding in the back of a pickup truck in California has been contentious. There are a variety of opinions on what should be done to ensure public safety, but there is one thing that everyone agrees on: it is illegal to ride in the back of a pickup truck in California.
The law banning passengers from riding in the back of pickup trucks was enacted in 1986, when then-Governor George Deukmejian signed Assembly Bill (AB) 3047 into law. The bill was sponsored by Assembly Member John Vasconcellos and was approved by both houses of the California Legislature.
The bill stated that no person shall ride in the open bed of any motor vehicle designed primarily for carrying cargo unless they are securely seated or restrained within an appropriate device such as a camper shell or other similar device. The law applies to all vehicles, including pickups, regardless if they are operated on public or private property.
The rationale behind AB 3047 was to reduce injury and death due to passengers being thrown from moving vehicles. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 1982 and 1990, over 200 people were killed and over 6,000 were injured while riding in the beds of moving vehicles across the United States.
Proponents of AB 3047 argued that this legislation would help prevent these kinds of tragedies from occurring in California by making it illegal for passengers to ride in the back of pickup trucks. Opponents argued that there was no evidence that this law would actually reduce injuries or deaths, and that it would infringe upon personal freedoms.
Conclusion:
It has been illegal to ride in the back of pickup trucks in California since 1986 when Assembly Bill (AB) 3047 was passed into law. The bill was intended to reduce injury and death due to passengers being thrown from moving vehicles by prohibiting passengers from riding in open beds. Although there is still debate about whether this legislation has been successful at reducing fatalities, it remains on the books as an important reminder about public safety.
