Tolls: exemption for privately owned emergency ambulances.

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, among others, the vehicle is displaying public agency identification and driven while responding to or returning from an urgent or emergency call. Existing law provides procedures for an operator of a toll facility and a public agency to resolve certain disputes relating to the nonpayment of tolls. Existing law allows for agreements between the owner or operator of a toll facility and a local emergency service provider that establish terms for the use of the toll facility by the emergency service provider. Existing law prohibits a person from operating a privately owned emergency ambulance unless licensed by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. This bill would generally modify the exemption to apply to the use of a toll facility, as defined, and would expand the exemption, dispute resolution procedures, and agreement provisions to include a privately owned emergency ambulance licensed by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. The bill would also make technical changes to these provisions.