SACRAMENTO — Senator Bill Dodd’s wildfire safety-related proposal requiring newly sold or installed electric garage door openers to be equipped with backup batteries to prevent people from being trapped in their garages during power failures took a step closer to becoming law Thursday when it passed the Assembly with overwhelming support.
The bill comes in the wake of the devastating October wildfires that triggered widespread power outages, leaving many evacuees unable to open their garage doors to flee the flames.
The remains of at least five victims were found where garages once stood.
“With the looming threat of more wildfires, we must do everything possible to keep people safe,” said Senator Dodd, D-Napa. “Requiring backup batteries on garage door openers will saves lives and ensure no one is left vulnerable.”
The senator is personally aware of the peril posed by power failures in the face of emergencies. He was forced to evacuate his own Napa home the night of the fall fires and could not open his heavy wooden garage door because power was out in his neighborhood. While garage door motors can be disconnected and opened manually, many people, especially seniors, find it difficult or impossible to do so.
“Most people don’t think about this until it is too late,” Dodd said. “My goal with this bill is to raise awareness and give people the security of a battery backup.”
Senate Bill 969 passed the Assembly on a 53 to 6 vote. It will go back to the Senate next week for concurrence before being sent to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. It is supported by the Consumer Federation of California. Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, is co-author.
“This past year’s fires demonstrate the need to protect people when the power goes out,” said Richard Holober, the Consumer Federation’s executive director. “This important legislation will keep people from being trapped in their garages.”
Residents who experienced firsthand that terror while trying to evacuate the approaching October firestorms applauded the bill’s progress. Santa Rosa resident Cheryl Diehm, who was stuck in her Oakmont garage, testified before lawmakers that it is a much-needed law.
“Thanks to Senator Dodd, we have a common-sense solution to what we discovered in October to be a widespread problem,” Diehm said. “Make no mistake — this legislation will help save lives.”
Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.
10 comments
Stupid. Why do you have to make new laws every day. How about the old school disconnect string? Next time I buy a garage door opener, it’s gonna cost me 3 times as much just so it’s certified “for sale in California “. Reminds me of the catalytic converters, pay 5 times as much for one here than in Nevada…just for that stupid California stamp. You sir, are part of the problem by passing as these laws, purposefully making it unaffordable to live here! Anyone else remember the old red pull sting? I just don’t get why there needs to be a law for everything…this used to be a free country….
This is what the release line is for. Pull and the door can easily be opened by hand. Laws and regulations cannot protect from everything. Some basic survival skills go a long way. I bet many people have non-functioning fire alarms, no flash lights, not prepared at all when the next earthquake strikes. Sad for the people who died. This was absolutely unnecessary.
Follow the money. He’s been greased or a relative has an ownership stake in whatever company has developed the battery back up door opener. Nanny state legislation at its finest. I’m sure Senator Dodd out of just sheer wisdom cooked up this fine piece of legislation. If he is truly listening to his constituents he’d be stopping the Delta tunnels and derailing the bullet train.
Apparently, the above commenters found this article “Too Long/Didn’t Read”. Or just plain stupid that they can’t think out of the box.
From the article:
“While garage door motors can be disconnected and opened manually, many people, especially seniors, find it difficult or impossible to do so.”
Installing a Uninterrupted Power Supply (aka UPS) will save lives. It’s a simple item which might add $50 to the cost. It’s a great idea which can be done now. Amazon sells one for $53.
What is the value of a senior citizen (most will be one some day), or a child?
Sean, it is impossible to protect all people from every thread they might encounter in their life. But democrats are pretending they do exactly that. Meanwhile, we pay increasing amounts of $$ to finance this BS. Why don’t we require fire alarms to connect wirelessly (and backed up by UPS) to the fire department when the batteries are getting low, and have fire fighters change the batteries? Would be great for seniors, and ave lives! I could give hundreds of more examples. What is the value of a senior citizen (most will be one some day), or a child?
Most fire departments are financially stressed already, why would we want to add more to their work load. However, fire departments are not in the business of changing batteries.
That’s your job. If you can’t do it, you can hire someone to do it for you. However, smoke detectors are required in all new homes. They save lives.
The proposed UPS addition is reasonable. We can’t know in advance who is skilled at opening the garage door when the power goes out. It is fair to say that most folks don’t know what the release rope is used for. A child may not be tall enough to reach it and an elderly person may not have the strength to raise the door after it is released.
Also, a CO detector should be built into the door opener to automatically open the door if CO is present in the garage.
You are not gifted with infinite wisdom. What is relevant in your world is not true for everyone. Seat belts, crumple zones, were added to save lives. A UPS on the garage opener is a reasonable item which can save lives. Sadly, it won’t help those five who were trapped in the garages. But, we can improve the chances of those still alive.
A CO detector that will open my garage door automatically? No thanks. That sounds like an easy way for thieves to gain entry….run a hose from the exhaust of the getaway car into the garage, wait five minutes and then clean you out. I’d go back to the drawing board with that one.
As for being trapped in a garage in a life or death situation….why not drive right through the fricken door? Have we become that feeble? Lol, if my life was on the line I’d smash right through that thing!
Sean, you are drinking the koolaid. Follow the $$$ going forward. You have to ask why at this juncture does the good senator enlighten all of us with his critical thinking? Enough already.
Without any substantive evidence of this so called money, your words mean nothing.
While we are speaking of Senator Dodd, I see his daughter in law was just appointed by Gov. Brown to the CA Workman’s Compensation Appeals Board at $153,689 per year. Sacramento is a swamp. Cronyism, nepotism, quid pro quo and the taxpayers pay for all of it.
Comments are closed.