Pascal Benyamini Featured on ABC 7 Discussing New California Laws

Los Angeles partner Pascal Benyamini was featured on an ABC 7 news segment titled, “New CA Restrictions on Cellphone Use While Driving Start Jan. 1.”

A new California law prohibits the use of any handheld cellular devices while driving. Calling or texting while driving was already prohibited, but now drivers are required to mount devices to the windshield or center console, without obstructing views of the roadway.

“You can tap it with your finger, swipe with your finger,” Pascal said. “It's a split second. But you can no longer hold it to look at the navigation to decide where you're going, or scroll through your music to determine what music you're going to pick. So it's really hands-free."

Pascal also discussed wage discrimination, the inclusion of race and ethnicity in the amended Equal Pay Act, and California’s minimum wage increase. For businesses with 26 or more employees, the minimum wage will be raised to $10.50 per hour on July 1, 2017, with an eventual goal to reach $15.00 per hour by 2020.

In addition to state laws, Pascal also gave an overview of Los Angeles’s new “Ban the Box” ordinance. Employers can no longer ask for criminal background information on an application. After a conditional offer is extended—and pre-employment—employers are able to ask if they’ve been convicted of any criminal offenses, as part of the hiring process.

To view the ABC 7 segment, click here.

To read Pascal’s Summary of Key New California laws for 2017, click here.