Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Existing state law authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate certain lanes for the exclusive use of high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) . Existing law also authorizes, until January 1, 2019, ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) , and until September 30, 2025, or until the date federal authorization expires, or until the Secretary of State receives a specified notice, whichever occurs first, super ultra-low emission vehicles (SULEVs) , enhanced advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicles (enhanced AT PZEVs) , or transitional zero-emission vehicles (TZEVs) , as specified, that display a valid identifier issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles to use these HOV lanes. Existing law makes it a crime to drive one of those vehicles in an HOV lane without properly displaying the issued identifier and having the vehicle registration with the vehicle, or to operate or own a vehicle displaying an identifier if the identifier was not issued for that vehicle. Existing law makes identifiers for ULEVs valid until January 1, 2019, and makes identifiers for SULEVs, enhanced AT PEZEVs, and TZEVs valid until January 1, 2019, January 1, 2022, or January 1 of the 4th year after the year in which they were issued, as specified. Existing law, except as specified, prohibits a vehicle from being issued an identifier more than once. This bill would authorize an identifier to be issued commencing January 1, 2020, until January 1, 2024, to SULEVs, enhanced AT PEZEVs, and TZEVs for a vehicle that had previously been issued an identifier and would make that identifier valid until January 1, 2024, if the applicant for the identifier has a household income at or below 80% of the state median income. The bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to report to the Legislature the number of identifiers issued pursuant to those provisions, and would require the report to be issued after January 1, 2023, but before June 1, 2023. The bill would prohibit a person who obtained an identifier for a vehicle prior to January 1, 2017, from obtaining another identifier pursuant to those provisions, notwithstanding the person's qualifying income. The bill would also make a conforming change and technical, nonsubstantive changes.