Every now and then the California legislature enacts a law that’s good for us.

Now I’m as cantankerous as the next person, that’s for sure, and I don’t like the government telling me what to do.  I’m always incredulous about any law that requires me to go buy something.   This new law is different.  It’s kind of like seat belts for your house.  Seat belts save lives.  So do carbon monoxide detectors.

Every year roughly 500 people are killed and another 20,000 are injured due to accidental poisonings that could have been prevented by a carbon monoxide detector.   It’s unknown how many thousands are affected by a carbon monoxide leak and don’t know it.  In my case it hits a little closer as my mother lost a friend who’s life could have been saved by a carbon monoxide detector.  The truth of the matter is that most of us will never need one, but none of us know who the one person we know is who will need one.  Is it worth $30 to have that person in your life?  There’s your answer.

The law requires any “Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy” to be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector.  They define a “Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy” as follows:

“Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy” means a
single-family dwelling, factory-built home as defined in Section
19971, duplex, lodging house, dormitory, hotel, motel, condominium,
stock cooperative, time-share project, or dwelling unit in a
multiple-unit dwelling unit building or buildings. “Dwelling unit
intended for human occupancy” does not mean a property owned or
leased by the state, the Regents of the University of California, or
a local governmental agency.

They missed the mark with the exemptions.  Should dorms be exempt?  No.  There should be no exemption from this law.  It’s a good one and it will save lives.

Home Depot has published a handy guide to buying these devices on their website.  Check it out and go to your local hardware store and get one.  The last thing you want to do is put it off until the day after you need one.