Amended in Senate August 6, 2014

Amended in Assembly April 24, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1721

Introduced by Assembly Member Linder

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Lowenthal)

February 13, 2014

An act to amend Section 5205.5 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1721, as amended, Linder. Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Existing federal law authorizes, until September 30, 2017, a state to allow specified labeled vehicles to use lanes designated for high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs).

Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate certain lanes for the exclusive use of HOVs, which may also be used, until January 1, 2019, or until the date the federal authorization expires, or until the Secretary of State receives that specified notice, whichever occurs first, by certain eligible low-emission and hybrid vehicles not carrying the requisite number of passengers otherwise required for the use of an HOV lane if the vehicle displays a vehicle identifier issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Existing law exempts a vehicle, eligible under these provisions to use HOV lanes, from toll charges imposed on single-occupant vehicles in designated high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes unless prohibited by federal law.

This bill would instead grant a vehicle, eligible under these provisions to use HOV lanes, a toll-free or reduced-rate passage in HOT lanes.

begin insert

This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 5205.5 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 2013, that would become operative only if AB 2013 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2015, and this bill is chaptered last.

end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5205.5 of the end insert begin insert Vehicle Code end insert begin insert is amended
to read: end insert

5205.5.  

(a) For purposes of implementing Section 21655.9,
the department shall make available for issuance, for a fee
determined by the department to be sufficient to reimburse the
department for the actual costs incurred pursuant to this section,
distinctive decals, labels, and other identifiers that clearly
distinguish the following vehicles from other vehicles:

(1) A vehicle that meets California’s super ultra-low emission
vehicle (SULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal
inherently low-emission vehicle (ILEV) evaporative emission
standard, as defined in Part 88 (commencing with Section
88.101-94) of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) A vehicle that was produced during the 2004 model-year or
earlier and meets begin delete California end delete begin insert California’s end insert ultra-low emission vehicle
(ULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal ILEV
standard.

(3) A vehicle that meets California’s enhanced advanced
technology partial zero-emission vehicle (enhanced AT PZEV)
standard or transitional zero-emission vehicle (TZEV) standard.

(b) The department shall include a summary of the provisions
of this section on each motor vehicle registration renewal notice,
or on a separate insert, if space is available and the summary can
be included without incurring additional printing or postage costs.

(c) The Department of Transportation shall remove individual
HOV lanes, or portions of those lanes, during periods of peak
congestion from the access provisions provided in subdivision (a),
following a finding by the Department of Transportation as follows:

(1) The lane, or portion thereof, exceeds a level of service C,
as discussed in subdivision (b) of Section 65089 of the Government
Code.

(2) The operation or projected operation of the vehicles
described in subdivision (a) in these lanes, or portions thereof, will
significantly increase congestion.

(3) The finding shall also demonstrate the infeasibility of
alleviating the congestion by other means, including, but not
limited to, reducing the use of the lane by noneligible vehicles or
further increasing vehicle occupancy.

(d) The State Air Resources Board shall publish and maintain
a listing of all vehicles eligible for participation in the programs
described in this section. The board shall provide that listing to
the department.

(e) (1) For purposes of subdivision (a), the Department of the
California Highway Patrol and the department, in consultation
with the Department of Transportation, shall design and specify
the placement of the decal, label, or other identifier on the vehicle.
Each decal, label, or other identifier issued for a vehicle shall
display a unique number, which number shall be printed on, or
affixed to, the vehicle registration.

(2) Decals, labels, or other identifiers designed pursuant to this
subdivision for a vehicle described in paragraph (3) of subdivision
(a) shall be distinguishable from the decals, labels, or other
identifiers that are designed for vehicles described in paragraphs
(1) and (2) of subdivision (a).

(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of
paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the department shall issue no
more than 55,000 distinctive decals, labels, or other identifiers that
clearly distinguish a vehicle specified in paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a).

(2) The department may issue a decal, label, or other identifier
for a vehicle that satisfies all of the following conditions:

(A) The vehicle is of a type identified in paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a).

(B) The owner of the vehicle is the owner of a vehicle for which
a decal, label, or other identifier described in paragraph (1) was
previously issued and that vehicle for which the decal, label, or
other identifier was previously issued is determined by the
department, on the basis of satisfactory proof submitted by the
owner to the department, to be a nonrepairable vehicle or a total
loss salvage vehicle.

(C) The owner of the vehicle applied for a decal, label, or other
identifier pursuant to this paragraph within six months of the date
on which the vehicle for which a decal, label, or other identifier
was previously issued is declared to be a nonrepairable vehicle or
a total loss salvage vehicle.

(g) If the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, serving as
the Bay Area Toll Authority, grants toll-free and reduced-rate
passage on toll bridges under its jurisdiction to a vehicle pursuant
to Section 30102.5 of the Streets and Highways Code, it shall also
grant the same toll-free and reduced-rate passage to a vehicle
displaying an identifier issued by the department pursuant to
paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a).

(h) (1) Notwithstanding Section 21655.9, and except as
provided in paragraph (2), a vehicle described in subdivision (a)
that displays a decal, label, or identifier issued pursuant to this
section shall be begin delete exempt from toll charges imposed on
single-occupant vehicles end delete begin insert granted a toll-free or reduced-rate
passage end insert in high-occupancy toll lanes as described in Section 149.7
of the Streets and Highways Code unless prohibited by federal
law.

(2) (A) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the imposition of a toll
imposed for passage on a toll road or toll highway, that is not a
high-occupancy toll lane as described in Section 149.7 of the
Streets and Highways Code.

(B) On or before March 1, 2014, paragraph (1) does not apply
to the imposition of a toll imposed for passage in lanes designated
for tolls pursuant to the federally supported value pricing and
transit development demonstration program operated pursuant to
Section 149.9 of the Streets and Highways Code for State Highway
Route 10 or 110.

(C) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the imposition of a toll
charged for crossing a state-owned bridge.

(i) If the Director of Transportation determines that federal law
does not authorize the state to allow vehicles that are identified by
distinctive decals, labels, or other identifiers on vehicles described
in subdivision (a) to use highway lanes or highway access ramps
for high-occupancy vehicles regardless of vehicle occupancy, the
Director of Transportation shall submit a notice of that
determination to the Secretary of State.

(j) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2019,
or the date the federal authorization pursuant to Section 166 of
Title 23 of the United States Code expires, or the date the Secretary
of State receives the notice described in subdivision (i), whichever
occurs first, and, as of January 1, 2019, is repealed, unless a later
enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1,
2019, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative
and is repealed.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 1.5. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5205.5 of the end insert begin insert Vehicle Code end insert begin insert is amended to
read: end insert

5205.5.  

(a) For purposes of implementing Section 21655.9,
the department shall make available for issuance, for a fee
determined by the department to be sufficient to reimburse the
department for the actual costs incurred pursuant to this section,
distinctive decals, labels, and other identifiers that clearly
distinguish the following vehicles from other vehicles:

(1) A vehicle that meets California’s super ultra-low emission
vehicle (SULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal
inherently low-emission vehicle (ILEV) evaporative emission
standard, as defined in Part 88 (commencing with Section
88.101-94) of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) A vehicle that was produced during the 2004 model-year or
earlier and meets begin delete California end delete begin insert California’s end insert ultra-low emission vehicle
(ULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal ILEV
standard.

(3) A vehicle that meets California’s enhanced advanced
technology partial zero-emission vehicle (enhanced AT PZEV)
standard or transitional zero-emission vehicle (TZEV) standard.

(b) The department shall include a summary of the provisions
of this section on each motor vehicle registration renewal notice,
or on a separate insert, if space is available and the summary can
be included without incurring additional printing or postage costs.

(c) The Department of Transportation shall remove individual
HOV lanes, or portions of those lanes, during periods of peak
congestion from the access provisions provided in subdivision (a),
following a finding by the Department of Transportation as follows:

(1) The lane, or portion thereof, exceeds a level of service C,
as discussed in subdivision (b) of Section 65089 of the Government
Code.

(2) The operation or projected operation of the vehicles
described in subdivision (a) in these lanes, or portions thereof, will
significantly increase congestion.

(3) The finding shall also demonstrate the infeasibility of
alleviating the congestion by other means, including, but not
limited to, reducing the use of the lane by noneligible vehicles or
further increasing vehicle occupancy.

(d) The State Air Resources Board shall publish and maintain
a listing of all vehicles eligible for participation in the programs
described in this section. The board shall provide that listing to
the department.

(e) (1) For purposes of subdivision (a), the Department of the
California Highway Patrol and the department, in consultation
with the Department of Transportation, shall design and specify
the placement of the decal, label, or other identifier on the vehicle.
Each decal, label, or other identifier issued for a vehicle shall
display a unique number, which number shall be printed on, or
affixed to, the vehicle registration.

(2) Decals, labels, or other identifiers designed pursuant to this
subdivision for a vehicle described in paragraph (3) of subdivision
(a) shall be distinguishable from the decals, labels, or other
identifiers that are designed for vehicles described in paragraphs
(1) and (2) of subdivision (a).

(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of
paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the department shall issue no
more than begin delete 55,000 end delete begin insert 70,000 end insert distinctive decals, labels, or other
identifiers that clearly distinguish a vehicle specified in paragraph
(3) of subdivision (a).

(2) The department may issue a decal, label, or other identifier
for a vehicle that satisfies all of the following conditions:

(A) The vehicle is of a type identified in paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a).

(B) The owner of the vehicle is the owner of a vehicle for which
a decal, label, or other identifier described in paragraph (1) was
previously issued and that vehicle for which the decal, label, or
other identifier was previously issued is determined by the
department, on the basis of satisfactory proof submitted by the
owner to the department, to be a nonrepairable vehicle or a total
loss salvage vehicle.

(C) The owner of the vehicle applied for a decal, label, or other
identifier pursuant to this paragraph within six months of the date
on which the vehicle for which a decal, label, or other identifier
was previously issued is declared to be a nonrepairable vehicle or
a total loss salvage vehicle.

(g) If the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, serving as
the Bay Area Toll Authority, grants toll-free and reduced-rate
passage on toll bridges under its jurisdiction to a vehicle pursuant
to Section 30102.5 of the Streets and Highways Code, it shall also
grant the same toll-free and reduced-rate passage to a vehicle
displaying an identifier issued by the department pursuant to
paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a).

(h) (1) Notwithstanding Section 21655.9, and except as
provided in paragraph (2), a vehicle described in subdivision (a)
that displays a decal, label, or identifier issued pursuant to this
section shall be begin delete exempt from toll charges imposed on
single-occupant vehicles end delete begin insert granted a toll-free or reduced-rate
passage end insert in high-occupancy toll lanes as described in Section 149.7
of the Streets and Highways Code unless prohibited by federal
law.

(2) (A) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the imposition of a toll
imposed for passage on a toll road or toll highway, that is not a
high-occupancy toll lane as described in Section 149.7 of the
Streets and Highways Code.

(B) On or before March 1, 2014, paragraph (1) does not apply
to the imposition of a toll imposed for passage in lanes designated
for tolls pursuant to the federally supported value pricing and
transit development demonstration program operated pursuant to
Section 149.9 of the Streets and Highways Code for State Highway
Route 10 or 110.

(C) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the imposition of a toll
charged for crossing a state-owned bridge.

(i) If the Director of Transportation determines that federal law
does not authorize the state to allow vehicles that are identified by
distinctive decals, labels, or other identifiers on vehicles described
in subdivision (a) to use highway lanes or highway access ramps
for high-occupancy vehicles regardless of vehicle occupancy, the
Director of Transportation shall submit a notice of that
determination to the Secretary of State.

(j) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2019,
or the date the federal authorization pursuant to Section 166 of
Title 23 of the United States Code expires, or the date the Secretary
of State receives the notice described in subdivision (i), whichever
occurs first, and, as of January 1, 2019, is repealed, unless a later
enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1,
2019, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative
and is repealed.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

end insert begin insert

Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to
Section 5205.5 of the Vehicle Code proposed by both this bill and
Assembly Bill 2013. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills
are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2015,
(2) each bill amends Section 5205.5 of the Vehicle Code, and (3)
this bill is enacted after Assembly Bill 2013, in which case Section
1 of this bill shall not become operative.

end insert

begin delete

SECTION 1.  

Section 5205.5 of the Vehicle Code is amended
to read:

5205.5.  

(a) For purposes of implementing Section 21655.9,
the department shall make available for issuance, for a fee
determined by the department to be sufficient to reimburse the
department for the actual costs incurred pursuant to this section,
distinctive decals, labels, and other identifiers that clearly
distinguish the following vehicles from other vehicles:

(1) A vehicle that meets California’s super ultra-low emission
vehicle (SULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal
inherently low-emission vehicle (ILEV) evaporative emission
standard, as defined in Part 88 (commencing with Section
88.101-94) of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) A vehicle that was produced during the 2004 model-year or
earlier and meets California’s ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV)
standard for exhaust emissions and the federal ILEV standard.

(3) A vehicle that meets California’s enhanced advanced
technology partial zero-emission vehicle (enhanced AT PZEV)
standard or transitional zero-emission vehicle (TZEV) standard.

(b) The department shall include a summary of the provisions
of this section on each motor vehicle registration renewal notice,
or on a separate insert, if space is available and the summary can
be included without incurring additional printing or postage costs.

(c) The Department of Transportation shall remove individual
HOV lanes, or portions of those lanes, during periods of peak
congestion from the access provisions provided in subdivision (a),
following a finding by the Department of Transportation as follows:

(1) The lane, or portion thereof, exceeds a level of service C,
as discussed in subdivision (b) of Section 65089 of the Government
Code.

(2) The operation or projected operation of the vehicles
described in subdivision (a) in these lanes, or portions thereof, will
significantly increase congestion.

(3) The finding shall also demonstrate the infeasibility of
alleviating the congestion by other means, including, but not
limited to, reducing the use of the lane by noneligible vehicles or
further increasing vehicle occupancy.

(d) The State Air Resources Board shall publish and maintain
a listing of all vehicles eligible for participation in the programs
described in this section. The board shall provide that listing to
the department.

(e) (1) For purposes of subdivision (a), the Department of the
California Highway Patrol and the department, in consultation
with the Department of Transportation, shall design and specify
the placement of the decal, label, or other identifier on the vehicle.
Each decal, label, or other identifier issued for a vehicle shall
display a unique number, which number shall be printed on, or
affixed to, the vehicle registration.

(2) Decals, labels, or other identifiers designed pursuant to this
subdivision for a vehicle described in paragraph (3) of subdivision
(a) shall be distinguishable from the decals, labels, or other
identifiers that are designed for vehicles described in paragraphs
(1) and (2) of subdivision (a).

(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of
paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the department shall issue no
more than 40,000 distinctive decals, labels, or other identifiers that
clearly distinguish a vehicle specified in paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a).

(2) The department may issue a decal, label, or other identifier
for a vehicle that satisfies all of the following conditions:

(A) The vehicle is of a type identified in paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a).

(B) The owner of the vehicle is the owner of a vehicle for which
a decal, label, or other identifier described in paragraph (1) was
previously issued and that vehicle for which the decal, label, or
other identifier was previously issued is determined by the
department, on the basis of satisfactory proof submitted by the
owner to the department, to be a nonrepairable vehicle or a total
loss salvage vehicle.

(C) The owner of the vehicle applied for a decal, label, or other
identifier pursuant to this paragraph within six months of the date
on which the vehicle for which a decal, label, or other identifier
was previously issued is declared to be a nonrepairable vehicle or
a total loss salvage vehicle.

(g) If the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, serving as
the Bay Area Toll Authority, grants toll-free and reduced-rate
passage on toll bridges under its jurisdiction to a vehicle pursuant
to Section 30102.5 of the Streets and Highways Code, it shall also
grant the same toll-free and reduced-rate passage to a vehicle
displaying an identifier issued by the department pursuant to
paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a).

(h) (1) Notwithstanding Section 21655.9, and except as
provided in paragraph (2), a vehicle described in subdivision (a)
that displays a decal, label, or identifier issued pursuant to this
section shall be granted a toll-free or reduced-rate passage in
high-occupancy toll lanes as described in Section 149.7 of the
Streets and Highways Code unless prohibited by federal law.

(2) (A) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the imposition of a toll
imposed for passage on a toll road or toll highway, that is not a
high-occupancy toll lane as described in Section 149.7 of the
Streets and Highways Code.

(B) On or before March 1, 2014, paragraph (1) does not apply
to the imposition of a toll imposed for passage in lanes designated
for tolls pursuant to the federally supported value pricing and
transit development demonstration program operated pursuant to
Section 149.9 of the Streets and Highways Code for State Highway
Route 10 or 110.

(C) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the imposition of a toll
charged for crossing a state-owned bridge.

(i) If the Director of Transportation determines that federal law
does not authorize the state to allow vehicles that are identified by
distinctive decals, labels, or other identifiers on vehicles described
in subdivision (a) to use highway lanes or highway access ramps
for high-occupancy vehicles regardless of vehicle occupancy, the
Director of Transportation shall submit a notice of that
determination to the Secretary of State.

(j) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2019,
or the date the federal authorization pursuant to Section 166 of
Title 23 of the United States Code expires, or the date the Secretary
of State receives the notice described in subdivision (i), whichever
occurs first, and, as of January 1, 2019, is repealed, unless a later
enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1,
2019, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative
and is repealed.

end delete