Authorized emergency vehicles.

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. Under existing law, the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle is exempt from various provisions of the rules of the road as contained in the Vehicle Code if, among other things, the vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call, the driver of the vehicle sounds a siren, and the vehicle displays a lighted red lamp visible from the front as a warning to other drivers and pedestrians. This bill would additionally permit an authorized emergency vehicle to operate on an HOV lane if specified conditions are met, including, among others, that the vehicle is being driven while responding to, or returning from, an urgent or emergency call and the driver of the vehicle determines that the use of the HOV lane will likely improve the arrival time of the authorized emergency vehicle and its delivery of essential public safety services. 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. This bill would remove that restriction so that an authorized emergency vehicle returning from being driven under those specified conditions is exempt from a requirement to pay a toll or other charge while traveling on a HOT lane.