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2017 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Transportation

Chairman: Charles W. Carrico, Sr.

Clerk: Eric Bingham, Eric Barton
Staff: B. Jamerson, C. Noonann
Date of Meeting: February 8, 2017
Time and Place: 15 minutes after Adjournment/Senate Room A
Updated to ADD HB1525, HB1622, HB2467

H.B. 1405 Trooper Chad Phillip Dermyer Memorial Bridge; designating as Rt. 143 bridge over Interstate 64.

Patron: Hodges

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."

17100227D

H.B. 1440 Farm use vehicles; imposes $250 fine for violating limitations while operating unregistered vehicle.

Patron: Bell, Richard P.

Farm use vehicles; penalties. Imposes a $250 fine for failing to comply with the restrictions for the use of farm use vehicles on the highway for a second and subsequent offense. Current law allows for a fine of up to $250 regardless of number of previous violations.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-613 of the Code of Virginia, relating to farm use vehicles; exemption from registration requirements.

17104849D

H.B. 1494 Driver's license; examination of drivers believed incompetent.

Patron: Knight

Examination of licensee believed incompetent. Requires the Medical Advisory Board to provide guidance and recommendations to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the case of any person believed incompetent by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant and whose driver's license has been revoked if such person appeals the decision on the basis of medical evidence. 

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-204 of the Code of Virginia, relating to examination of drivers believed incompetent.

17104633D

H.B. 1504 Issuance of a driver's license or learner's permit; minimum standards for vision tests.

Patron: Fowler

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 110 degrees of horizontal vision in one or both eyes.

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.

17103046D

H.B. 1525 Revocation or suspension of driver's licenses; laws of other jurisdictions.

Patron: Albo

Revocation or suspension of driver's licenses; laws of other jurisdictions. Precludes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles from administratively revoking or suspending a person's driver's license solely on the basis that such person was convicted under the laws of another jurisdiction if the Supreme Court of Virginia or the Court of Appeals of Virginia has held that the other jurisdiction's law is not substantially similar to the laws of the Commonwealth or a county, city, or town ordinance.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-410.2, relating to revocation or suspension of driver's licenses; laws of other jurisdictions.

17100315D

H.B. 1559 Special identification cards; fee for issuance of duplicate or reissuance, expiration of cards.

Patron: Krizek

Expiration and renewal of special identification cards.  Provides that special identification cards expire after eight years instead of seven years.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-333.1 and 46.2-345 of the Code of Virginia, relating to renewal of special identification cards.

17104283D

H.B. 1606 Handheld personal communications devices; use of devices in highway work zones.

Patron: Villanueva

Use of handheld personal communications devices in highway work zones. Prohibits any person from texting or otherwise using a handheld personal communications device while operating a motor vehicle in a highway work zone, defined in the bill, when workers are present. The bill includes an exemption for an operator of a vehicle who activates, deactivate, or initiates a factory-installed feature or function on the vehicle.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the use of handheld personal communications devices in highway work zones.

17100696D

H.B. 1622 Commercial vehicles; harmonizes penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) and commercial DUI.

Patron: Collins

Driving commercial vehicle while intoxicated; penalties. Harmonizes the penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) and commercial DUI. The bill imposes a $250 mandatory minimum fine for a first offense of commercial DUI and mandatory minimum sentences of five days if the person's blood alcohol level was at least 0.15 and 10 days if the person's blood alcohol level was more than 0.20. The bill increases from five to 20 days the mandatory minimum sentence for a second offense committed within five years, adds a 10-day mandatory minimum sentence for a second offense committed within five to 10 years, and imposes a $500 mandatory minimum fine for any second offense committed within a 10-year period. The bill also imposes additional mandatory minimum sentences for a second offense committed within 10 years of 10 days if the person's blood alcohol level was at least 0.15 and 20 days if the person's blood alcohol level was more than 0.20 as well as an additional $500 mandatory minimum fine. The bill raises the penalty for a third offense committed within 10 years from a Class 1 misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 days, or 30 days if the three offenses were committed within five years, to a Class 6 felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 days, or six months if the three offenses were committed within five years, and a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000. The bill adds a penalty for a fourth or subsequent offense committed within a 10-year period that includes a mandatory minimum sentence of one year and a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000. The bill also provides that a person convicted of commercial DUI after being convicted of certain felony DUI or DUI-related offenses is guilty of a Class 6 felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of one year and a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000. The bill also provides that the punishment for any person convicted of commercial DUI who was transporting a minor at the time of the offense shall include an additional mandatory minimum sentence of five days and an additional fine of at least $500 and no more than $1,000. Finally, the bill provides that the mandatory minimum punishments are cumulative and mandatory minimum sentences must be served consecutively.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-341.28 of the Code of Virginia, relating to driving commercial vehicle while intoxicated; penalties.

17104830D

H.B. 1640 Department of Motor Vehicles; titling an out-of-state trailer.

Patron: Leftwich

Department of Motor Vehicles; titling an out-of-state trailer. Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to publish on its website a detailed guide for obtaining a title for a trailer that was purchased out of state and was not required by the state of purchase to be titled or registered.

A BILL to direct the Department of Motor Vehicles to publish a guide to titling trailers purchased out of state on its website.

17100504D

H.B. 1705 Certification of driver education courses; requirements.

Patron: Greason

Certification of driver education courses; requirements. Provides that any driver education course provider licensed pursuant to Chapter 17 (§ 46.2-1702 et seq.) of Title 46.2 shall also be authorized to provide the 90-minute parent/student driver education component currently required in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia).

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1702 of the Code of Virginia, relating to certification of driver education courses; requirements.

17103035D

H.B. 1732 License plates, special; issuance for supporters of Virginia Nurses Foundation.

Patron: Yancey

Special license plates; Virginia Nurses Foundation. Authorizes the issuance of revenue-sharing special license plates for supporters of the Virginia Nurses Foundation. 

A BILL to authorize the issuance of special license plates for supporters of the Virginia Nurses Foundation, relating to issuance of special license plates for supporters of the Virginia Nurses Foundation; fees.

17101683D

H.B. 1741 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating as Virginia Route 114 bridge.

Patron: Rush

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. Designates the Virginia Route 114 bridge between Montgomery and Pulaski Counties the "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge."

A BILL to designate the Virginia Route 114 bridge between Montgomery and Pulaski Counties the "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge."

17101483D

H.B. 1761 Regulation of taxicabs.

Patron: Anderson

Regulation of taxicabs. Provides that the governing body of any county, city, or town that regulates taxicabs may authorize any taxicab to operate software-based devices that utilize GPS or other measurement data in the calculation of time-and-distance fares, notwithstanding the requirements for the specifications and tolerances for measuring and weighing devices.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-2062 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal § 46.2-2059.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to regulation of taxicabs.

17103625D

H.B. 1763 Special license plates; highway safety.

Patron: Greason

Special license plates; highway safety. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates for supporters of highway safety, including awareness of distracted driving. The bill exempts the plate from the requirement to obtain 450 prepaid applications prior to issuance and from the provision that prohibits issuance of additional plates in the series if, after five or more years after issuance, the plate has fewer than 200 active sets of plates. Additionally, the plate shall be subject only to a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates.

A BILL to authorize the issuance of special license plates for supporters of highway safety.

17103057D

H.B. 1785 Emergency vehicles, privately owned volunteer; exemptions and requirements.

Patron: Bell, Robert B.

Warning lights on privately owned emergency vehicles. The bill clarifies the current limit of no more than two flashing or steady-burning red or red and white warning light units on one vehicle owned by a member of a fire department, volunteer fire company, or volunteer EMS agency or a police chaplain.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1024 of the Code of Virginia, relating to warning lights on privately owned volunteer emergency vehicles; requirements.

17104560D

H.B. 1878 Suspension of license; person legally adjudged incompetent.

Patron: Pogge

Suspension of license of person legally adjudged incompetent; notice to DMV Commissioner. Allows a person who has been adjudged legally incapacitated by a court to petition the court to retain his right to drive, and if so granted, the court need not send a copy of the order to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The bill allows a court to order a person adjudged legally incapacitated to undergo a DMV examination in order to retain his right to drive. Current law requires such suspension regardless of a court order permitting a person deemed incapacitated the right to drive.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-400 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal § 46.2-314 of the Code of Virginia, relating to suspension of license of person not competent to drive; notice.

17104303D

EMERGENCY

H.B. 1888 Wireless telecommunications devices; use by persons driving school buses.

Patron: Hugo

Use of wireless telecommunications devices by persons driving school buses. Allows school bus drivers to use, in addition to two-way radio devices, wireless telecommunications devices that are similar to two-way radio devices to communicate with school or public safety officials.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-919.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of wireless telecommunications devices by persons driving school buses.

17101457D

H.B. 1929 Public-Private Transportation Act; comprehensive agreement.

Patron: Bagby

Public-Private Transportation Act; comprehensive agreement. Requires all comprehensive agreements resulting in privately funded roads open for public transportation to include a provision ensuring funding for adequate staffing, defined in the bill, for general law enforcement by the Virginia State Police.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-1808 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Public-Private Transportation Act; comprehensive agreement.

17103562D

H.B. 2015 DRIVE SMART Virginia Education Fund; created.

Patron: Villanueva

DRIVE SMART Virginia Education Fund. Establishes a method by which holders of an account for an electronic toll collection device that is the property of the Commonwealth may opt in to make a voluntary contribution through electronic means to the DRIVE SMART Virginia Education Fund (the Fund), created by the bill. The bill requires that contributions to the Fund be used solely for the purposes of supporting educational projects through DRIVE SMART Virginia.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 6 of Title 33.2 a section numbered 33.2-616, relating to the DRIVE SMART Virginia Education Fund.

17101953D

H.B. 2019 Transportation network company partner; vehicle registration repeal.

Patron: Villanueva

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 annual 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.

17103824D

H.B. 2022 Transportation, Department of; traffic incident response and management.

Patron: Villanueva

Department of Transportation; traffic incident response and management. Allows individuals or entities acting on behalf of the Department of Transportation to operate as needed in response to traffic incidents and to access and to remove from moving lanes on a highway vehicles and cargo that are impeding traffic flow due to a traffic incident. The bill requires a driver to move a vehicle from the roadway after an emergency, accident, or breakdown that did not result in injury or death if the vehicle is movable and the driver is capable of safely doing so. Current law allows drivers to move a vehicle from the roadway after an accident if the vehicle is movable and the driver is capable of safely doing so, but does not require it.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-808.1, 46.2-888, 46.2-920.1, 46.2-1210, and 46.2-1212.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Transportation; traffic incident response and management.

17103825D

H.B. 2023 Highway maintenance payments; bicycle lanes.

Patron: Villanueva

Highway maintenance payments; bicycle lanes. Provides that cities and towns that receive highway maintenance payments from the Commonwealth based on moving-lane-miles of highway will not have such payments reduced if moving-lane-miles of highway are converted to bicycle-only lanes, provided that the number of moving-lane-miles is not more than 50 moving-lane-miles or three percent of the municipality's total number of moving-lane-miles, whichever is less, and that prior to such conversion the city or town certifies that the conversion design has been assessed by a professional engineer and designed in accordance with certain national standards. Municipalities will not receive additional funds and cannot reduce their funding of road and street maintenance after a conversion. The bill also repeals the provision that allowed the City of Richmond to convert 20 moving-lane-miles to bicycle-only lanes.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-319 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal the second enactment of Chapter 722 of the Acts of Assembly of 2015, relating to maintenance payments to certain cities and towns for moving-lanes converted to bicycle-only lanes.

17102193D

H.B. 2032 Filing and application fees for transportation network companies.

Patron: Adams

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.

17102061D

H.B. 2075 Commercial driver's license; instruction in comprehensive community colleges.

Patron: Wilt

Commercial driver's license instruction; comprehensive community colleges. Allows comprehensive community colleges in the Virginia Community College System to administer the in-vehicle component of driver instruction to students enrolled in a commercial driver training course offered by such community college who have failed the behind-the-wheel examination or genera knowledge examination for a commercial driver's license three times. The bill requires that after such additional training, the Department of Motor Vehicles only shall administer the applicable exam. The bill requires that comprehensive community colleges offering such coursework meet certain standards as established by the Department and that the Department notify such comprehensive community colleges and similarly affected schools of course curriculum requirements and notify such colleges and schools if new topics are added to the mandatory curriculum. Such comprehensive community colleges and affected schools shall have 45 days to comply and update their course curriculum with the relevant changes.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-341.14 of the Code of Virginia, relating to commercial driver's license instruction; comprehensive community colleges.

17103591D

H.B. 2201 Failure to drive on right side of highways or observe traffic lanes; increases penalties.

Patron: O'Quinn

Failure to drive on right side of highways or observe traffic lanes; penalties.Increases the fine for failing to drive on the right side of highways or failing to observe traffic lanes from no more than $250 to $250 per violation.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-802 and 46.2-804 of the Code of Virginia, relating to driving on the right side of highways and special regulations applicable on highways laned for traffic; penalties.

17101919D

H.B. 2214 Transportation, Department of, and University of Virginia; use agreement.

Patron: Toscano

Department of Transportation and the University of Virginia; use agreement. Authorizes a use agreement between the Department of Transportation and the University of Virginia to permit the Department of Transportation use of the Shelburne Building on the University of Virginia Charlottesville campus for a period not to exceed 50 years.

A BILL to authorize the Department of Transportation to enter into a use agreement with the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia to permit the Department of Transportation use of the Shelburne Building located on the University of Virginia Charlottesville campus.

17102161D

H.B. 2229 Electronic credentials; creates standards for DMV in issuing, reviewing, etc., report.

Patron: Villanueva

Electronic Credentials Act; report. Creates standards for the Department of Motor Vehicles in issuing, reviewing, and displaying electronic credentials. The Act creates fees for access to electronic credentials and standards for a verification system that would allow users to verify the authenticity of electronic credentials.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 46.2 an article numbered 3, consisting of sections numbered 46.2-225 through 46.2-230, relating to electronic credentials; report.

17102057D

H.B. 2241 Transportation planning activities; responsibility of Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment.

Patron: Jones

Department of Transportation; Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment of the Secretary of Transportation; responsibilities. Shifts responsibilities for transportation planning activities from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment of the Secretary of Transportation. The bill specifies VDOT's core functions and limits the agency's duties to those core functions. The bill requires transparency in the development of the Six-Year Improvement Program and the State of Good Repair Program by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) and requires the CTB and VDOT to make public certain information related to the selection of projects.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-229, 33.2-214.1, 33.2-222, and 33.2-256 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 33.2-214.2, relating to Department of Transportation; Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment of the Secretary of Transportation; responsibilities.

17104432D

H.B. 2467 Driving on a suspended or revoked license; period of suspension.

Patron: Bell, Robert B.

Driving on a suspended or revoked license; period of suspension. Provides that any driver's license suspension imposed upon a person for the failure to pay court-ordered fines and costs shall run concurrently with any other period of license suspension, revocation, or forfeiture imposed upon such person. The bill also provides that in the event that a person whose license has been suspended for the failure to pay court-ordered fines and costs is convicted of driving on a suspended or revoked license, the additional period of license suspension imposed as a result of that conviction runs concurrently with the underlying suspension for the failure to pay court-ordered fines and costs. Under current law, such additional suspension period does not commence until the expiration of the previous suspension or revocation.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-301 and 46.2-395 of the Code of Virginia, relating to driving on a suspended or revoked license; period of suspension.

17103953D