According to the new real estate law proposed by the Board of Supervisors, outdoor lights  cause nuisance by shining too brightly. “Light trespass results in a waste of natural resources and, at certain levels, may jeopardize the health, safety or welfare of Riverside County residents,” said County Supervisor John Tavaglione.

Tavaglione first began pursuing a new ordinance after a complaint from a constituent last year that alleged the lights from a neighboring business caused him to lose sleep.

If passed, all outdoor light fixtures “shall be located, adequately shielded and directed such that no direct light falls outside the parcel of origin, or onto the public right-of-way” and “shall not blink, flash or rotate” according to the new measure.

Street lights and lights used by public safety agencies, as well as lights used for public or private monuments will be exempt. Special events and lights used for holidays such as Christmas will also be exempt with some limitations. “Luminaires used for a holiday decoration, provided it is used for no more than 30 days in a 12-month period, and is off between the hours of 11 p.m. and sunrise, (are exempt),” according to the proposal.

When a complaint of light trespass is filed with the sheriff’s or code enforcement departments, the county personnel would conduct a follow-up investigation to confirm a violation.

The first two violations in a six-month period would be classified as infractions. A third offense in a six-month period would be treated as a misdemeanor, Tavaglione said.

He also added that the minimum fine for a first offense would be $100. The penalty for a second offense would be $250, and the penalty for three or more offenses would be $500 — with the possibility of up to six months in county jail. Every night that the trespass continues would qualify as a separate offense.

Property owners who have committed “light trespass” prior to adoption of the ordinance would have three to six months to rectify the problem, or face penalties.

The final vote to pass the new measure is scheduled for November 15th.

Lake Elsinore, Temecula, and Murrieta recently passed laws that mandated all businesses to use E-Verify, a tool that uses a federal database to check immigration status.  The three cities within Riverside County will have to repeal their laws to comply with the new state measure.

Get help from an experienced business formation & litigation attorney. Riverside Lawyer Darren Trone have been serving businesses with quality results for over 20 years.

Under current California law, county records are available to anyone who is capable of claiming a property is theirs. This can allow anyone to fraudulently claim and potentially sell the property to an unexpected buyer. And since the seller is not required to show up to file the transaction, the entire process can be done without their knowledge.

A new law in Riverside County aims to make the process harder for thieves and frauds to falsify claims behind the true owner’s back.

Starting September 1st, Riverside County home owners will be notified via letter in the mail that a transaction is in progress. With the notification that a sale is happening without their permission, owners can take action to stop the fraudulent activity.

If you think there is fraudulent activity being taken on your property records, contact Riverside real estate attorney Darren P. Trone for a free initial consultation at 951 686-2975 or www.TroneLaw.com.