Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes: used by physicians.

Existing law authorizes a physician when traveling in response to an emergency call to be exempt from certain speed limit requirements, as specified, if the vehicle being used by the physician displays an insigne approved by the Department of the California Highway Patrol indicating that the vehicle is owned by a licensed physician. Existing law permits the Department of Transportation and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, to authorize exclusive use of highway lanes for a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) . The unauthorized use of an HOV lane is an infraction punishable by specified fines. This bill would authorize the Department of Transportation and local authorities to also permit exclusive or preferential use of high-occupancy vehicle lanes by a vehicle driven by a physician if the vehicle is driven by a physician in response to an emergency call and the vehicle displays the insignia approved by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. The exemption from certain speed limit requirements would not apply to the use of an HOV lane by a physician under this provision. The bill would also increase the fines for the unauthorized use of an HOV lane in violation of this provision. The bill would provide that this provision only applies if the Director of Transportation determines that the application would not subject the state to a loss of federal aid for highways.