A bill to crack down on “hate littering” across California was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.

Assembly Bill 3024, which was introduced by Asm. Chris Ward (D-San Diego), expands state civil rights protections against the dissemination of materials like flyers or pamphlets contain threatening speech with the intention of intimidating members of a protected class.

Also known as “hate littering,” this practice has become an increasing issue for neighborhoods throughout the Golden State, mirroring a wider nationwide surge in hate crimes based on race, religion or sexual orientation.

With the newly signed law, those targeted by hate littering will be able to seek civil damages from the individual behind the distribution of those materials. These protections go into effect immediately.

“The act of hate littering goes beyond what is intended in our First Amendment protections,” Ward said in a statement on Newsom’s signing of AB 3024.

“When hate groups are deliberately going into Jewish communities to leave anti-Semitic flyers on the doorsteps, vehicles and personal property of their victims to try to intimidate and harass them where they live, that’s not free speech,” Ward continued. “That’s attempting to turn neighbor against neighbor, and it makes the people these flyers are targeting afraid to be themselves and live their lives in their own neighborhood.”

AB 3024 builds off a landmark civil rights law in California, the Ralph Civil Rights Act of 1976. This law made it illegal to threaten or enact violence against an individual because of their actual or perceived characteristics like race, religion or sexual orientation.

The law was a direct response to intimidation tactics largely linked to white nationalist hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, such as the burning or desecration of a cross outside someone’s home with the intent of threatening its owner.

Proponents of the AB 3024 argued it would make necessary updates to strengthen the protections laid out under California’s civil rights law by incorporating modern day hate-based groups’ strategies.

Critics, on the other hand, expressed concern the measure could lead to overly broad limitations of speech given the often anonymous nature of the practice.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Friday allowing Malibu to add five speed cameras along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Over 60 lives have been taken in fatal crashes on this stretch of highway since 2010, and this bill aims to enhance the PCH’s safety.

The bill, known as SB 1297, will add speed cameras along a 21-mile stretch of PCH to target and fine speeding drivers.

The Malibu City Council declared a local emergency in November of 2023 to address the public safety risk caused by speeding drivers, prompting the CHP to step up enforcement.

KTLA’s John Fenoglio spoke with local residents who say the cameras can’t come soon enough.

“I’m glad to see [Newsom] implement it because this shouldn’t be a freeway,” said Malibu resident Kristal Moffett. “And every time I see people crossing or speeding, it’s terrifying.”

The Malibu City Council must approve a plan that ensures the rollout of the camera program meets regulatory compliance. The new law goes into effect in January. 

Until then, residents are urging drivers to just slow down.

An Inland Empire resident is warning others after thieves targeted and drilled into her vehicle to steal gasoline.

The incident occurred on Sept. 19 as Heather Velasco parked her truck outside Kindred Hospital in Rancho Cucamonga where she works.

Later that day, she and a coworker were heading out to lunch when she approached her truck and noticed a strong gasoline odor.

Thinking it was emanating from a nearby diesel truck, they got into the car and began driving but immediately, Velasco knew something was wrong. Her truck was only three years old, so she was surprised anything would be malfunctioning.

“We drove across the street and my car started sputtering,” she recalled.

She eventually pulled over and that’s when she discovered someone had drilled into her truck’s fuel tank to empty the vehicle.

“I just looked under and sure enough, there was a hole and it was leaking gas and then I looked up and I saw another hole,” she said.

Velasco called the police and had her truck towed away. She was left with costly repairs in the aftermath — pay $4,000 upfront to fix the damages or pay a $1,000 deductible with an increase to her insurance premium. She chose to fix her truck by claiming her insurance.

She was also left without a car for a week which meant relying on others to drive her three children to school and at times, missing out on shifts at her workplace.

“It’s hard times,” Velasco said. “We’re living in times where everything is inflated. Trying to raise a family and trying to do things right. You’re not getting anywhere because you got these criminals on the run and they’re just doing whatever they want.”

Police noted there have been several cases of gas siphoning in the area since 2023.

In nearby Upland, police arrested a man on Sept. 23 for allegedly trying to steal gas from a box truck on the 800 block of North Mountain Avenue.

Velasco said she’s thankful no one was hurt, but is now worried that she can’t safely park her truck anywhere without fear of being targeted again.

“We should be able to go in, clock in and feel like your stuff is safe out there,” she said of parking at her workplace.

Local police recommend protecting your vehicle by having an active alarm system to deter thieves and parking near security cameras when possible.

“If you have access to it, park in a secure location like a garage or gated area, then that would be best, but otherwise parking underneath a lit area [would also be helpful],” said Upland Police Sgt. Eric DiVincenzo.

No suspect has been arrested so far as the incident remains under investigation.