Section 5384.1 Of Article 3. Regulation Of Charter-party Carriers Of Passengers From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 8. >> Article 3.
5384.1
. (a) At the time transportation service is prearranged or
the contract of carriage is made, the charter-party carrier of
passengers shall ask the chartering party and, upon being asked, the
chartering party shall disclose to the charter-party carrier of
passengers, whether the following are true:
(1) Alcoholic beverages will be served by the chartering party or
be transported in the passenger compartment of the vehicle during
transportation.
(2) A member of the party to be provided with transportation
services will be under 21 years of age.
(b) If, at the time transportation was prearranged with the
charter-party carrier of passengers, the chartering party discloses
that alcoholic beverages will be served or transported in the
passenger compartment and a member of the party is under 21 years of
age, each of the following applies:
(1) The charter-party carrier of passengers, at the time
transportation services are arranged, shall notify the chartering
party of all of the following:
(A) A designee who is 25 years of age or older shall be present
whenever persons under 21 years of age who are not accompanied by a
parent or legal guardian are being transported.
(B) The designee shall make reasonable efforts to ensure
compliance with all laws prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic
beverages by persons under 21 years of age who are members of the
party and are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
(C) The designee shall check the identifications of all passengers
to determine who is under 21 years of age and shall read the
statement specified in paragraph (7) to each passenger in the party
who is under 21 years of age. The driver shall not commence transport
until the designee has verified with the driver that the designee
has checked the identifications of all passengers and has read the
statement. If passengers are picked up at more than one location, the
driver shall not commence transport from the subsequent location
until the designee has verified with the driver that the designee has
checked the identifications of all passengers boarding the vehicle
at that location and has read the statement to all passengers
boarding the vehicle at that location.
(D) The designee shall notify the driver of the vehicle if, at any
time during the trip, a passenger in their party who is under 21
years of age is consuming or has consumed alcoholic beverages.
(E) The designee shall be responsible for any reasonably
foreseeable personal injury or property damage that is proximately
caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21
years of age while being supplied with transportation services if
the designee knew or reasonably should have known that the person is
under 21 years of age or has consumed alcoholic beverages while being
supplied with transportation services.
(F) If a trip is terminated because of the consumption of
alcoholic beverages by a person under 21 years of age who is a member
of their party, the designee's responsibility for that minor shall
continue until that person who is under 21 years of age is returned
safely to his or her home or entrusted into the care of his or her
parent or legal guardian or taken to a location reasonably believed
to be safer than his or her home.
(2) (A) The charter-party carrier of passengers shall provide a
copy of the written form described in paragraph (4) to the chartering
party and shall verify the written form has been returned with the
signature of the designee no later than 72 hours prior to the
commencement of the travel date. If the transportation service is
prearranged within 72 hours of the travel date, the charter-party
carrier of passengers shall immediately provide the written form
described in paragraph (4) to the chartering party as a stand-alone
form separate from the contract of carriage, to be returned prior to
the commencement of transportation services with the signature of the
designee. A charter-party carrier of passengers may supply the
chartering party with additional forms for a replacement designee in
the event the planned designee is unable to accompany the party
during transport. The charter-party carrier of passengers shall
verify the written form of a replacement designee has been returned
with the signature of the replacement designee no later than 72 hours
prior to the commencement of the travel date.
(B) (i) If the charter-party carrier of passengers does not
provide the written notice specified in subparagraph (A), and the
designee does not return the signed form prior to the commencement of
the transport, the charter-party carrier of passengers shall do any
of the following:
(I) Provide a designee who is not the driver and shall incur any
and all liabilities of that designee.
(II) Remove and lock all alcoholic beverages in the vehicle's
trunk or other locked compartment.
(III) Prohibit all persons under 21 years of age from boarding the
vehicle.
(IV) Cancel the trip and refund all payments for the
transportation services.
(ii) A charter-party carrier of passengers that fails to comply
with clause (i) shall incur the liabilities of a designee.
(3) The charter-party carrier of passengers shall inform the
driver of the vehicle that alcohol will be present and that there
will be persons under 21 years of age present during the provision of
transportation services and the name of the designee.
(4) The driver of the vehicle shall obtain the designee's
signature or initials on a written form indicating the designee's
acknowledgment and agreement to all of the following:
(A) Alcoholic beverages will be served by the chartering party or
be transported in the passenger compartment of the vehicle during
transportation.
(B) A member of the party to be provided with transportation
services will be under 21 years of age.
(C) The person signing or initialing is the designee and is 25
years of age or older.
(D) The designee shall make reasonable efforts to ensure
compliance with all laws prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic
beverages by persons under 21 years of age who are members of the
party and are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
(E) The designee must check the identifications of all passengers
to determine who is under 21 years of age and shall read the
statement specified in paragraph (7) to each passenger in the party
who is under 21 years of age. The driver will not commence
transportation services until the designee has verified with the
driver that the designee has checked the identifications of all
passengers and has read the statement. If passengers are to be picked
up at more than one location, the driver will not commence transport
from the subsequent location until the designee has verified with
the driver that the designee has checked the identifications of all
passengers boarding the vehicle at that location and has read the
statement to all passengers boarding the vehicle at that location.
(F) The designee is responsible for notifying the driver of the
vehicle if, at any time during the trip, a passenger in their party
who is under 21 years of age is consuming or has consumed alcoholic
beverages and that the designee is in violation of the law if he or
she fails to notify the driver.
(G) The designee is legally responsible for any reasonably
foreseeable personal injury or property damage that is proximately
caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21
years of age while being supplied with transportation services if
the designee knew or reasonably should have known that the person is
under 21 years of age and is consuming or has consumed alcoholic
beverages while being supplied with transportation services.
(H) If a trip is terminated because of the consumption of
alcoholic beverages by a person under 21 years of age who is a member
of their party, the designee's responsibility for that person under
21 years of age continues until that person who is under 21 years of
age is returned safely to his or her home or entrusted into the care
of his or her parent or legal guardian or taken to a location
reasonably believed to be safer than his or her home.
(5) The designee shall be a passenger of the vehicle during the
provision of transportation services and shall make reasonable
efforts to ensure the lawful conduct of all persons in the vehicle
who are members of the party who are under 21 years of age and who
are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
(6) (A) The designee shall make reasonable efforts to ensure
compliance with all laws related to the consumption of alcoholic
beverages by persons in the party who are under 21 years of age and
who are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
(B) The designee shall make reasonable efforts to ensure
compliance with all laws prohibiting the providing of alcoholic
beverages to persons under 21 years of age by adult members of the
party who are 21 years of age or older.
(C) If a person under 21 years of age is accompanied by a parent
or legal guardian, then the parent or legal guardian shall make
reasonable efforts to ensure that person complies with laws
prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
(D) A designee or, when present, the parent or legal guardian who
fails to act reasonably shall be responsible for any reasonably
foreseeable personal injury or property damage that is proximately
caused by a violation of laws prohibiting the consumption of
alcoholic beverages by a person under 21 years of age when alcoholic
beverages are consumed during the provision of transportation
services if the designee, parent, or legal guardian knew or
reasonably should have known that the person is under 21 years of age
and is consuming or has consumed alcoholic beverages during the
provision of transportation services.
(E) Nothing in this paragraph limits the right of a designee to
seek indemnity from any person, corporation, or other entity other
than the charter-party carrier of passengers.
(F) Nothing in this section relieves a passenger of legal
responsibility for his or her own conduct.
(7) (A) The designee shall read the following statement to those
persons under 21 years of age: