Authorized emergency vehicles.

Existing law provides for the exemption of authorized emergency vehicles, as defined, from the payment of a toll or charge on a vehicular crossing, toll highway, or high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane and any related fines, when the authorized emergency vehicle is being driven under specified conditions, including that the vehicle displays public agency identification and is being driven while responding to, or returning from, an urgent or emergency call. Under existing law, an authorized emergency vehicle returning from being driven under those specified conditions is not exempt from a requirement to pay a toll or other charge imposed while traveling on a HOT lane. Existing law does not prohibit the owner or operator of a toll facility and a local emergency service provider from entering into an agreement for the use of the toll facility. This bill would require the owner or operator of a toll facility, upon the request of the local emergency service provider, to enter into an agreement for the use of a toll facility.