Here's something you don't see every day. Normally the California legislature and the Governor's office work hand-in-glove like a well-oiled, liberal machine, cranking out one disastrous policy after another in the name of political correctness. But that wasn't the case in Sacramento this week. Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a new bill dealing (supposedly) with automobile safety measures, despite having previously supported the legislation. The bill in question would have mandated all new cars in the state to monitor a driver's speed and issue a "beeping" alarm if the vehicle exceeded the posted speed limit by a significant margin. Typically, Newsome loves issuing new mandates on auto manufacturers no matter what the impact on drivers and owners might be. So what's different now? Could it have something to do with there being an election just around the corner and his poll numbers appear to be showing some cracks in his formerly solid blue wall? (Associated Press)

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Saturday that would have required new cars to beep at drivers if they exceed the speed limit.

California would have become the first to require such systems for all new cars, trucks and buses sold in the state starting in 2030. The bill, aimed at reducing traffic deaths, would have mandated that vehicles beep at drivers when they exceed the speed limit by at least 10 mph (16kph).

The European Union has passed similar legislation to encourage drivers to slow down. California’s proposal would have provided exceptions for emergency vehicles, motorcycles and motorized scooters.

Just speaking in the most general of terms, bills like this are bad news for consumers and also for auto manufacturers. As increasing numbers of states impose new, non-standardized rules for passenger vehicles, manufacturers are left with the choice of forcing those changes on everyone or creating separate lines of otherwise identical vehicles on a state-by-state basis. This drives up costs for consumers and imposes new challenges when attempting to sell a car or register it in another state if the owner relocates. 

We should also consider the real-world impact of a mandatory "accessory" such as this. It would be bad enough if the alarm simply beeped at you when you're exceeding the speed limit, but there is no chance that its operation is as simple as that. First, the sensor would need to be aware of how fast the car is going. Fair enough. That's easily determined locally. But how does the sensor know how fast "too fast" is in any given location? It has to be obtaining that information externally in real time. If it's capable of retrieving such data out of the ether, what' stopping it from shipping your car's data out to anyone ranging from the manufacturer to law enforcement? 

For his part, Newsom is saying that federal law already dictates vehicle safety standards and adding requirements specific to California "would create a patchwork of regulations." Since when has that ever been a concern for Newsom or California in general? Further, it's not as if the technology doesn't already exist to do precisely what I'm talking about here. Multiple states employ speed cameras on highways that record your naughty driving habits and will helpfully mail you a ticket you will need to pay without even being aware that you have been nabbed in the act. 

Much of the country is in a increasingly divided mood during this election cycle and California is no exception. Intrusive state government policies are falling out of favor and the polls appear to reflect this reality. California still doesn't show any signs of completely flipping into the red column, but it's possible that Newsom can see what's going on and he's getting a bit nervous. He still fancies himself a potential presidential contender somewhere down the line and he's smart enough to realize that he will have to begin appealing to a national audience and not just his liberal, California base.