Vehicles: narrow track vehicles.

Under existing law, upon application for an original driver's license, except student licenses, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall require an examination of the applicant. Existing law requires an applicant for a driver's license to submit to an examination appropriate to the type of motor vehicle or combination of vehicles the applicant desires a license to drive. This bill would include narrow track vehicles in the list of class C vehicles subject to the licensing provisions described above. The bill would define a narrow track vehicle as a fully enclosed motor vehicle with 3 or 4 wheels that does not exceed 40 inches in width, and that conforms with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, as specified. The bill would also define a short narrow track vehicle as a narrow track vehicle that does not exceed 102 inches in length. Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation and local authorities to designate certain highway lanes for the exclusive or preferential use of high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) , requires the department or local authorities to place signage advising motorists of the rules governing the use of those lanes, and prohibits the use of those lanes by motorists other than in conformity with the posted rules. Existing law provides a limited exemption allowing specified vehicles, including blood transport vehicles and motorcycles, to use HOV lanes. Existing law places specified conditions on the authority of a blood transport vehicle to use these exclusive or preferential lanes. This bill would place the same conditions on the authority of a narrow track vehicle's use of these exclusive or preferential lanes as those applied to blood transport vehicles. The bill would include narrow track vehicles in the HOV lane exemption described above only until January 1, 2027. Existing law authorizes the Department of the California Highway Patrol to develop educational guidelines relating to lane splitting in a manner that would ensure the safety of the motorcyclist, drivers, and passengers, as specified. Existing law defines "lane splitting" for these purposes as driving a motorcycle that has 2 wheels in contact with the ground between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, as specified. This bill would revise the definition of lane splitting and expand the provisions described above to include narrow track vehicles. This bill would authorize a local authority that regulates motorcycle parking to regulate parking for short narrow track vehicles, as defined, in the same manner, as specified. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes.