The Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senate Bill 1389, which would restrict police officers from ticketing motorists for minor traffic infractions.
But California doesn’t need the legislation, according to Republican congressional candidate Joe Collins, III.
“We're over legislated as it is,” he said. “We have so many laws on the books that people don't even follow. So, I don't see the point in creating any more laws when we can't even enforce the laws that we already have on the books.”
Authored by Sen. Steve Bradford (D-Inglewood), SB 1389 would require a separate reason to stop drivers, such as not having a current automobile registration, a license plate that is only partially attached, or a broken taillight.
“There are not that many low-level traffic offenses that are happening especially right now with the cost of fuel,” Collins told the Southern California Record. “The majority of traffic offenses occur when a driver shows the potential to cause harm or danger based on their ability to drive. It's not low-level traffic offenses that are responsible for the majority of drug busts either.”
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes submitted a letter opposing the legislation.
"In my view, this bill would undermine the credibility of our laws and would further cement California's reputation as a state that turns a blind eye to criminal activity," he wrote in the May 24 letter.
Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and Sen. Brian Jones (R-Santee) are two of seven senators who opposed the proposed law and Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) has since ordered the bill to the inactive file on May 27 for further study.
“The whole entire California legislative system is messed up and needs to be fixed because it's broken,” Collins said. “People are overtaxed. Our California is being run by environmentalists and people who support illegal immigration. That's where the majority of our tax dollars are going. That's why the cost of living is rising and why we’ve got so many homeless people living on the streets.”
Collins, a retired Navy sailor, decided to run for the 46th Congressional seat during the last election cycle. His opponent was Democratic incumbent Maxine Waters.
“When I got out of the military, I wasn't getting my VA benefits and I was actually a homeless veteran,” he said. “I was going to Maxine Waters’ office and I could never get any help. It was a heavily contested race. She's one of the most powerful women in Congress. So, I learned a lot.”
Redistricting landed Collins, a licensed financial professional and a certified counselor for victims of rape and sexual assault, in the 36th District for 2022’s election cycle.
“It's more affluent and easier to talk to people about issues that are going on in the United States and in California in regards to taxes, education, inflation, and things of that nature," Collins added. "So, I'm confident about this race.”
If elected, Collins plans to prioritize lowering the cost of living.
“I want to get rid of these useless taxes,” he said. “Government wasteful spending is the problem in America.”
If Collins wins the nomination in the June 7 primary, he will go on to the general election facing either Democrat incumbent Rep. Ted Lieu or Colin Kilpatrick O'Brien.