BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2491 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 18, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION Jim Frazier, Chair AB 2491 (Nazarian) - As Amended April 20, 2016 SUBJECT: Vehicles: stopping, standing, and parking SUMMARY: Authorizes local jurisdictions to restrict parking, stopping, and standing of vehicles in the vicinity of driveways used by certain emergency vehicles. Specifically, this bill: 1)Authorizes a local authority, by ordinance, to prohibit parking, stopping, or leaving a vehicle standing, as specified, within 15 feet of a driveway used by emergency vehicles owned or operated by a fire department, police department, ambulance service care provider, and acute care hospital. 2)Provides that the no parking, standing, and stopping restriction does not apply to any vehicle owned or operated by the fire department, police department, ambulance service provider, or acute care hospital provided that the vehicles are clearly marked as belonging to the respective entity. 3)Requires the local jurisdiction to post signs and provide appropriate curb markings that clearly delineate the no parking, standing, and stopping zones. AB 2491 Page 2 EXISTING LAW: 1)Prohibits, with certain exceptions, persons from stopping, parking, or leaving a vehicle standing within 15 feet of a fire station driveway unless the vehicle is owned or operated by the fire station entities and is clearly marked, as specified. 2)Authorizes a local jurisdiction to provide appropriate curb markings and to post signs delineating the zone 15 feet zone adjacent to the fire station driveway entrance, as specified. FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, this bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel. COMMENTS: According to the author, emergency service vehicles entering or exiting driveways of police stations, ambulance service providers, and general acute care hospitals are often blocked by cars that are parked around or stopped in from of the driveway entrance. He notes that when emergency vehicles cannot enter or exit their facilities, critical response time is lost and important services are delayed. The author points to statistics provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services that approximately 295,000 patients are transported to emergency rooms each year and that over 2.2 million people received ambulatory care visits in Los Angeles County alone. The author also points out that, in particular, ambulance transport companies, who respond to AB 2491 Page 3 millions of calls across the state annually, report frequently experiencing problems entering and exiting their facilities on emergency response calls. Unlike fire stations, there is no prohibition against vehicles stopping or standing in close proximity or in front of driveways of the emergency response providers identified in AB 2491. To address this issue, the author introduced this bill, which would authorize a local jurisdiction to, after the passage of an ordinance, prohibit stopping, parking, or leaving a vehicle standing within 15 feet of a driveway to a police station, ambulance service provider, or general acute care hospital provided that appropriate signs and curb markings delineate the restricted zones. Writing in support of AB 2491, the California Sheriffs' Association asserts that existing law rightly prohibits the stopping, parking, or standing of any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire station driveway entrance. They contend that it stands to reason that this prohibition be expanded to other facilities, such as police stations and hospitals, where clear access is needed to ensure timely response of emergency vehicles. REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION: AB 2491 Page 4 Support California Sheriffs' Association Peace Officers Research Association of California South Robertson Neighborhood Council Opposition None on file Analysis Prepared by:Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093