Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Existing law directs the Department of Transportation and certain local authorities to erect and maintain signage along state and county highways that designate certain traffic lanes as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and specify conditions for their use. This bill would require the department or a local authority, when replacing signs designating HOV lane use in an area that permits motorcycles to use those lanes, to include language on the new sign stating that motorcycles are permitted in the HOV lanes. Because this bill would increase the duties of local authorities, it would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.