Vehicles: firefighter's operation of firefighting equipment: driver records.

(1) Existing law prohibits a person from operating firefighting equipment unless that person has in his or her possession a valid driver's license for the appropriate class of vehicle operated. Existing law requires an applicant for a driver's license to submit to an examination appropriate to the class of vehicle the applicant desires to drive. Class B vehicles include, among others, a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 pounds. Successful completion of the examination to drive a class B vehicle qualifies the person to operate all vehicles covered under class C. Class C vehicles include, among others, a vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less. This bill would revise and recast the provisions regulating the operation of firefighting equipment, as defined, to permit certain persons employed as a firefighter or registered as a volunteer firefighter to operate firefighting equipment only if the person holds a class A, class B, or class C license, with certain exceptions, and a firefighter endorsement issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, after providing to the department proof of current employment or registration as a volunteer firefighter with a fire department and evidence of fire equipment operation training, as specified, passing the written firefighter examination developed by the department with the cooperation of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and submitting a report of medical examination on a department-approved form. (2) Existing law requires an employer of a driver who drives a specified vehicle, including a vehicle for which the driver is required to have a class A or B license, to participate in a pull-notice system, for the purpose of providing the employer with a report that shows, among other things, the driver's current public record as recorded by the department. Existing law requires a fee to accompany a request to participate in the pull-notice system. This bill would exempt a fire department, as described, from paying the requisite fee to participate in the pull-notice system. The bill would make related changes. (3) This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 1808.1 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 2777 to be operative only if AB 2777 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2011, and this bill is chaptered last. (4) This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 12804.9 of the Vehicle Code proposed by SB 1475 to be operative only if SB 1475 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2011, and this bill is chaptered last.