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2017 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Transportation

Chairman: Charles W. Carrico, Sr.

Clerk: Eric Binham, Eric Barton
Staff: B. Jamerson, C. Noonann
Date of Meeting: January 18, 2017
Time and Place: 45 minutes after Adjournment/Senate Room A
Updated to ADD SB 1101

S.B. 805 Vehicle registration fees; funds for Department of State Police.

Patron: Carrico

Vehicle registration fees; funds for Department of State Police. Raises the vehicle registration fee by $1.25 on each July 1 from 2017 through 2026 and allocates the funds to the Department of State Police.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-686 and 46.2-694, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to vehicle registration fees; funds for Department of State Police.

17100646D

S.B. 855 Trooper Chad Phillip Dermyer Memorial Bridge; designating as Rt. 143 bridge over Interstate 64.

Patron: Norment

Designating the Trooper Chad Phillip Dermyer Memorial Bridge. Designates the State Route 143 bridge in the City of Newport News at exit 255 over Interstate 64 the "Trooper Chad Phillip Dermyer Memorial Bridge."

A BILL to designate the State Route 143 bridge in the City of Newport News the "Trooper Chad Phillip Dermyer Memorial Bridge."

17100218D

S.B. 860 Use of handheld personal communications devices while driving; penalty.

Patron: Surovell

Use of handheld personal communications devices while driving; penalty. Expands the prohibition of using a handheld personal communications device while operating a motor vehicle to all communications unless the device is specifically designed to allow voice and hands-free operation and the device is being used in that manner. Current law prohibits only the reading of an email or text message and manually entering letters or text in the device as a means of communicating. The bill expands the exemptions to include handheld personal communications devices that are used for navigation or generating audio transmissions when the device is physically mounted to the vehicle. The bill provides that any violation of this prohibition that occurs concurrently with an additional traffic offense, or if the violation results in an accident, is punishable as reckless driving. Current law provides that a violation of this prohibition is punishable as a traffic infraction only.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to hands-free operation of handheld personal communications devices in motor vehicles; exceptions; penalty.

17100966D

S.B. 950 Nonrepairable and rebuilt vehicles.

Patron: Ruff

Nonrepairable and rebuilt vehicles. Eliminates the requirement that nonrepairable and rebuilt vehicles have incurred damage that exceeds 90 percent of their cash value prior to such damage to meet the definition of nonrepairable and rebuilt.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1600 of the Code of Virginia, relating to nonrepairable and rebuilt vehicles.

17103017D

S.B. 954 Toll violations.

Patron: DeSteph

Toll violations. Relocates Title 46.2 (Motor Vehicles) provisions relating to driving a motor vehicle from an establishment where motor fuel is dispensed into the vehicle's tank without payment, and smoking in proximity to gas pumps, from their current location in Article 1.1 (Toll Violations and Enforcement) of Chapter 8 to a more logical placement in Chapter 1 (General Provisions). The bill combines Code sections relating to electronic toll facilities. The bill requires a court to consider extenuating circumstances in assessing civil penalties for toll violations, which have been updated to reflect the technological advancements in collecting tolls. The bill makes the procedure for contesting toll violations via affidavit on toll facilities uniform.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-208, 46.2-819, 46.2-819.1, and 46.2-819.3 of the Code of Virginia, to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 46.2 sections numbered 46.2-120 and 46.2-121, and to repeal §§ 46.2-819.2, 46.2-819.3:1, and 46.2-819.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to toll violations and enforcement.

17100661D

S.B. 998 Department of Motor Vehicles; availability of accident reports.

Patron: Ruff

Department of Motor Vehicles; availability of accident reports. Requires the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to furnish a copy of an accident report to the requesting party within five days of the request.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-380 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Motor Vehicles; availability of accident reports.

17102102D

S.B. 1022 Annual report by toll operators.

Patron: Ebbin

Annual report by toll operators. Requires all toll operators and HOT lanes operators to annually report data on toll violations, civil penalties, and administrative fees to the Department of Transportation (VDOT). The bill requires VDOT to submit such information to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1.1 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-819.11, relating to annual report by toll operators.

17100543D

S.B. 1041 Virginia Driver's Manual course; age requirements.

Patron: Cosgrove

Virginia Driver's Manual course; age requirements. Lowers from 19 to 18 the minimum age of persons who have failed the driver knowledge examination three times who are permitted to take the Virginia Driver's Manual course offered by a licensed and approved driver training school before attempting the driver knowledge examination a fourth time.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-325 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Driver's Manual course; age requirements.

17103293D

S.B. 1069 Salvage vehicles, out-of-state; titling vehicles in the Commonwealth.

Patron: Deeds

Titling out-of-state salvage vehicles. Provides a process by which the owner of a salvage vehicle that has been rebuilt, titled, and registered in another state may obtain a nonnegotiable title for such vehicle to operate on the highways of the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-1600, 46.2-1603, 46.2-1603.2, 46.2-1604, 46.2-1605, and 46.2-1606 of the Code of Virginia, relating to titling salvage vehicles.

17101407D

S.B. 1085 Drivers' licenses, etc.; expiration and renewal of driver credentials.

Patron: Wexton

Department of Motor Vehicles; expiration and renewal of driver credentials. Allows the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to digitally verify the authenticity and validity of driver's licenses, learner's permits, and special identification cards for nongovernmental entities. The bill allows DMV to issue transaction receipts for expired vehicle registration renewals that will serve as evidence that the holder has complied with DMV payment requirements in order to allow those with expired registrations to renew such registration online. The bill allows DMV to extend the validity period for driver's licenses for persons absent from the Commonwealth during the expiration period of such licenses for good cause shown and payment of a fee.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-208, 46.2-212.1, 46.2-221.2, 46.2-325, and 46.2-332 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Motor Vehicles; expiration and renewal of driver credentials.

17101781D

S.B. 1101 Filing and application fees for transportation network companies.

Patron: Newman

Filing and application fees for transportation network companies. Allows transportation network companies two fee options when applying for an original or renewal of a certificate. A transportation network company may either pay the existing certificate fees of $100,000 upon application and $60,000 for renewal or pay a $20 surcharge per record when purchasing a driver transcript in addition to the current transcript fee.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-2011.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to filing and application fees for transportation network companies.

17101779D

S.B. 1148 Airspace; authority to lease or convey.

Patron: Favola

Authority to lease or convey airspace. Provides that the Commissioner of Highways has the authority to select any competitive procurement process for leases and conveyances of airspace and that he may reject any bid he believes is not in the best interest of the Commonwealth. Current law requires public advertisement for bids and requires the Commissioner to accept the highest bid from a responsible bidder.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-226 of the Code of Virginia, relating to authority of the Commissioner of Highways to lease or convey airspace.

17102114D

S.B. 1151 Local towing advisory board; membership.

Patron: Favola

Local towing advisory board; membership. Requires local towing advisory boards to consist of an equal number of representatives of (i) local law-enforcement agencies, (ii) licensed towing and recovery operators, (iii) commercial property or business owners, including business tenants residing in commercial buildings, and (iv) the general public. Current law requires the membership of such advisory boards to consist of (a) an equal number of representatives of local law-enforcement agencies and licensed towing and recovery operators and (b) one member of the general public.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1233.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local towing advisory board; representatives.

17101916D

S.B. 1169 Minimum city population required to enforce certain ordinance violations.

Patron: Deeds

Minimum city population required to enforce certain ordinance violations. Decreases from 90,000 to 40,000 the minimum population of cities whose parking, stopping, and standing ordinances may provide that summonses and tickets for violations of such ordinances or regulations may be issued by law-enforcement officers, other uniformed city employees, or uniformed personnel under contract with the city.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1220 of the Code of Virginia, relating to enforcement of parking, stopping, and standing ordinances or regulations; minimum city population.

17101527D

S.B. 1184 Motor vehicles; prohibits leaving vehicles unattended and running.

Patron: Dance

Leaving vehicles unattended and running; prohibition. Prohibits a person operating a motor vehicle from allowing such vehicle to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, and effectively setting the brake.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-1215.1, relating to leaving vehicles unattended and running; prohibition.

17102140D

S.B. 1187 Law-enforcement vehicles; permits vehicles to be equipped with steady-burning blue or red lights.

Patron: Dance

Steady-burning blue or red lights on law enforcement vehicles. Permits law enforcement vehicles to be equipped with steady-burning blue or red lights in addition to being equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating blue, blue and red, blue and white, or red, white, and blue combination warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1022 of the Code of Virginia, relating to steady-burning blue or red lights on law-enforcement vehicles.

17102138D

S.B. 1211 Vehicle license fees and taxes, local; collection by counties and adjoining towns.

Patron: Wexton

Local vehicle license fees and taxes. Allows counties and adjoining towns to enter into reciprocal agreements to collect each other's vehicle license fees and taxes. Currently, such collection is limited to nondelinquent license fees and taxes.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-752 of the Code of Virginia, relating to collection of local motor vehicle taxes and license fees.

17102381D

S.B. 1223 Riding bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device while intoxicated; penalty.

Patron: Barker

Riding bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped while intoxicated; penalty. Provides that any person operating a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped on a highway while intoxicated is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-905.1, relating to riding bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped while intoxicated.

17102947D

S.B. 1229 Issuance of a driver's license or learner's permit; minimum standards for vision tests.

Patron: Dunnavant

Issuance of a driver's license or learner's permit; minimum standards for vision tests. Increases the minimum visual acuity an applicant must possess for issuance of a driver's license or learner's permit from a field of 100 degrees of horizontal vision in one or both eyes to a field of 120 degrees of horizontal vision in one or both eyes and increases the minimum visual acuity for a license permitting the driving of motor vehicles during a period beginning one-half hour after sunrise and ending one-half hour before sunset from a field of 70 degrees of horizontal vision to a field of 90 degrees of horizontal vision.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-311 of the Code of Virginia, relating to issuance of a driver's license or learner's permit; minimum standards for vision tests.

17101110D

S.B. 1250 Motor vehicle safety inspection data.

Patron: Carrico

State Police motor vehicle safety inspection data. Authorizes the Superintendent of State Police to provide, upon request, verification of the inspection status of a vehicle and to charge a reasonable fee for providing such information. Fees shall not be charged to government or other public entities.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1163 of the Code of Virginia, relating to motor vehicle safety inspection data.

17103924D

S.B. 1277 Law-enforcement vehicles; permits vehicles to be equipped with steady-burning blue or red lights.

Patron: Ebbin

Steady-burning blue or red lights on law enforcement vehicles. Permits law enforcement vehicles to be equipped with steady-burning blue or red lights in addition to being equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating blue, blue and red, blue and white, or red, white, and blue combination warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1022 of the Code of Virginia, relating to steady-burning blue or red lights on law-enforcement vehicles.

17100776D

S.B. 1279 Flashing amber lights on vehicles.

Patron: McDougle

Flashing amber lights on vehicles. Allows vehicles used to collect and deliver packages weighing less than 150 pounds by a national package delivery company that delivers such packages in all 50 states to be equipped with flashing amber lights, provided that the amber lights are lit only when the vehicle is stopped and its operator is engaged in such collection and delivery.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1025 of the Code of Virginia, relating to flashing amber lights on vehicles.

17102250D

S.B. 1338 Passing in a bicycle lane; penalty.

Patron: Surovell

Passing in a bicycle lane; penalty. Provides that the driver of a motor vehicle who uses a bicycle lane to pass or attempt to pass another vehicle is guilty of reckless driving.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-854 of the Code of Virginia, relating to passing in a bicycle lane; penalty.

17103609D

S.B. 1345 Driver privilege cards.

Patron: Surovell

Driver privilege cards. Authorizes the issuance of new driver privilege cards by the Department of Motor Vehicles to an individual who has (i) reported income from Virginia sources on an individual tax return filed with the Commonwealth in the preceding 12 months and (ii) is not in violation of the insurance requirements of Article 8 (§ 46.2-705 et seq.) (Registration of Uninsured Motor Vehicles) of Chapter 6 of Title 46.2. The bill provides that driver privilege cards shall confer the same privileges and shall be subject to the same provisions as driver's licenses and permits; however, driver privilege cards shall not (a) confer voting privileges, (b) permit an individual to waive any part of the driver examination, or (c) be required to present proof of legal presence in the United States. The bill provides for the term "driver's license" to consistently refer to all driver's licenses, permits, driver privilege cards, and special identification cards issued by the Commonwealth or the comparable law of another jurisdiction. The bill allows the issuance of a limited-duration driver's license and special identification card to an applicant presenting valid documentary evidence that a federal court or federal agency having jurisdiction over immigration has authorized the applicant to be in the United States for a period of at least 30 days from the date of application. The bill authorizes the Tax Commissioner to provide to the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles information sufficient to verify that an applicant for a driver privilege card or permit reported income from Virginia sources on an individual tax return filed with the Commonwealth in the preceding 12 months. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2018.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3705.7, 2.2-3808.1, 4.1-305, 8.01-313, 8.01-420.8, 8.9A-503, 12.1-19, 16.1-69.40:1, 16.1-228, 17.1-293, 18.2-6, 18.2-268.1, 19.2-258.1, 20-60.3, 20-107.1, 22.1-205, 24.2-410.1, 24.2-411.1, 24.2-416.7, 24.2-643, 32.1-291.2, 33.2-613, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 38.2-2212, 46.2-328.1, 46.2-330, 46.2-332, 46.2-333.1, 46.2-335, 46.2-343, 58.1-3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 59.1-442, 59.1-443.3, 63.2-1916, and 63.2-1941 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-328.2, relating to driver privilege cards.

17101732D

S.B. 1366 Transportation network company partner; vehicle registration repeal.

Patron: Newman

Transportation network company partner vehicle registration repeal. Removes the requirement that a transportation network company (TNC) partner register his personal vehicle for use as a TNC partner vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill allows the Department of State Police to recognize another state's motor vehicle safety inspection in lieu of a Virginia inspection and clarifies that a TNC partner can keep proof of inspection in or on the vehicle.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-2000, 46.2-2001.3, 46.2-2011.20, 46.2-2011.29, and 46.2-2099.50 of the Code of Virginia, relating to transportation network company partner vehicle registration repeal; safety inspections.

17103845D

S.B. 1415 Virginia Port Authority; removal of members on Board of Commissioners.

Patron: Spruill

Virginia Port Authority; Board of Commissioners. Provides that the 11 members of the Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Port Authority appointed by the Governor no longer serve at the pleasure of the Governor and may be removed prior to the expiration of a five-year term only for cause.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 62.1-129 of the Code of Virginia, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, relating to Virginia Port Authority; removal of members on Board of Commissioners.

17102133D