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2018 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Transportation

Chairman: Charles W. Carrico, Sr.

Clerk: Chad Starzer
Staff: Chrissy Noonan
Date of Meeting: January 17, 2018
Time and Place: 15 Min after adj. Senate Room 3, The Capitol

S.B. 46 Pedestrians; drivers yielding the right-of-way.

Patron: Favola

Yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians; stopping. Clarifies the duties of vehicle drivers to stop to allow pedestrians to cross highways at (i) clearly marked crosswalks, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block; (ii) any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block; or (iii) any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway where the maximum speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour. The bill contains technical amendments.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-924 of the Code of Virginia, relating to yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians; stopping.

18100967D

S.B. 73 Overweight permits; vehicles for hauling Virginia-grown farm produce over bridges and culverts.

Patron: Cosgrove

Overweight permits for hauling Virginia-grown farm produce; bridges and culverts. Provides that no vehicle issued an overweight permit for hauling Virginia-grown farm produce, regardless of the vehicle's axle weights or axle spacing, shall cross any bridge or culvert in the Commonwealth if the gross weight of such vehicle is greater than the amount posted for the bridge or culvert as its carrying capacity. Current law requires specific weight limitations based upon axle weights or axle spacing.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1148 of the Code of Virginia, relating to overweight permits for hauling Virginia-grown farm produce; bridges and culverts.

18100733D

S.B. 74 Handheld personal communications devices; use while driving.

Patron: Surovell

Use of handheld personal communications devices while driving. Expands the prohibition on 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 (i) for navigation or generating audio transmissions when the device is physically mounted to the vehicle, (ii) as a citizens band radio, (iii) by federally licensed amateur radio operators under certain circumstances, or (iv) by an operator who activates, deactivates, 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 hands-free operation of handheld personal communications devices in motor vehicles; exceptions.

18101511D

S.B. 87 Careless driving; cause of injury to vulnerable road user.

Patron: Surovell

Careless driving; cause of injury to vulnerable road user. Provides that a person who operates a motor vehicle in a careless or distracted manner and is the proximate cause of serious physical injury to a vulnerable road user, defined in the bill as a pedestrian or person riding a bicycle, electric wheelchair, electric bicycle, wheelchair, skateboard, skates, foot-scooter, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle, is guilty of a traffic infraction.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-816.1, relating to careless driving and infliction of injury on vulnerable road users.

18100393D

S.B. 88 Bicycle lane; penalty for driver to pass another vehicle using lane.

Patron: Surovell

Passing in a bicycle lane prohibited. Prohibits the driver of a motor vehicle from using a bicycle lane to pass or attempt to pass another vehicle.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-100 and 46.2-841 of the Code of Virginia, relating to passing in a bicycle lane.

18100392D

S.B. 97 Driving with animal; no person shall operate a moving motor vehicle with an animal on his lap.

Patron: Marsden

Driving with animal prohibited. Prohibits any person, while operating a moving motor vehicle, to (i) have an animal on his lap, (ii) permit an animal to impede his free access to and use of vehicle controls, or (iii) obstruct his vision.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-818.2, relating to driving with an animal.

18100177D

S.B. 104 Reckless driving; raises threshold for speeding.

Patron: Suetterlein

Reckless driving; exceeding speed limit. Raises from 80 to 85 miles per hour the speed above which a person who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth is guilty of reckless driving regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-862 of the Code of Virginia, relating to reckless driving; exceeding speed limit.

18100616D

S.B. 181 Driver's license; suspension for nonpayment of fines or costs.

Patron: Stanley

Suspension of driver's license for nonpayment of fines or costs. Repeals the requirement that the driver's license of a person convicted of any violation of the law who fails or refuses to provide for immediate payment of fines or costs be suspended. The bill provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall return or reinstate any person's driver's license that was suspended solely for nonpayment of fines or costs.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-258.1, 19.2-354, 19.2-354.1, 33.2-503, 46.2-301, 46.2-361, 46.2-391.1, 46.2-416, 46.2-819.1, 46.2-819.3, 46.2-819.3:1, 46.2-819.5, and 46.2-1200.1 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal § 46.2-395 of the Code of Virginia, relating to suspension of driver's license for nonpayment of fines or costs.

18101254D

S.B. 250 Towing advisory boards; appointment prior to entering into contract regarding regulations.

Patron: Dance

Towing advisory boards. Makes discretionary the requirement that the governing body of a locality appoint a towing advisory board prior to adopting an ordinance or entering into a contract regarding local towing regulations. Current law makes such requirement mandatory.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-1217 and 46.2-1233.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to towing advisory boards.

18102041D

S.B. 326 Towing advisory boards; appointment prior to entering into contract regarding regulations.

Patron: Ruff

Towing advisory boards. Makes discretionary the requirement that the governing body of a locality appoint a towing advisory board prior to adopting an ordinance or entering into a contract regarding local towing regulations. Current law makes such requirement mandatory.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-1217 and 46.2-1233.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to towing advisory boards.

18103917D

S.B. 363 Delegate Lacey Putney Memorial Highway; designating certain portion of U.S. Route 221.

Patron: Newman

Delegate Lacey Putney Memorial Highway. Designates the portion of U.S. Route 221 between the Town of Bedford and the City of Lynchburg the "Delegate Lacey Putney Memorial Highway." The bill contains an emergency clause.

A BILL to designate a portion of U.S. Route 221 the "Delegate Lacey Putney Memorial Highway."

18102108D

EMERGENCY

S.B. 410 Steady-burning blue or red lights on law-enforcement vehicles.

Patron: McDougle

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.

18101633D

S.B. 441 School zones; use of certain devices by drivers prohibited.

Patron: Wexton

School zones; use of certain devices by drivers prohibited. Provides that any person who operates a moving motor vehicle while using any handheld personal communications device (i) within a reduced-speed school crossing zone on a day school is in session or (ii) on school property is guilty of a traffic infraction, unless the handheld personal communications device is specifically designed and configured to allow voice and hands-free operation and the device is being used in that manner. The bill includes an exception for operators of emergency vehicles in the performance of their official duties.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-1078.2, relating to use of handheld personal telecommunications devices on school property or in reduced-speed school crossing zones.

18101008D

S.B. 515 Special license plates; Virginia Realtors.

Patron: Suetterlein

Special license plates; Virginia Realtors. Updates the name of an occupational organization whose members may apply for a special license plate from "Association of Realtors" to "Virginia Realtors."

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-746.8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to special license plates; Virginia Realtors.

18101963D

S.B. 575 Vehicle registration extension for satisfaction of certain requirements.

Patron: DeSteph

Vehicle registration extension for satisfaction of certain requirements. Expands eligibility for a one-month extension of a vehicle registration period to include persons whose vehicle registration has been withheld for failure to pay tolls.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-646.2 and to repeal §§ 46.2-752.1 and 46.2-1183.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to vehicle registration extension for satisfaction of certain requirements.

18102831D

S.B. 586 Exhaust system in good working order; exclusion.

Patron: DeSteph

Exhaust system in good working order; exclusion. Excludes antique motor vehicles, defined as motor vehicles 25 years old or older, from the requirement that such vehicle be equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise. Current law excludes antique motor vehicles manufactured prior to 1950 from such requirements.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1049 of the Code of Virginia, relating to exhaust system in good working order; excluded vehicles.

18103722D

S.B. 679 Second highways; regulating of parking in Albemarle County.

Patron: Deeds

Regulation of parking on secondary highways; Albemarle. Adds Albemarle County to the list of counties that may, by ordinance, regulate parking on secondary highways.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1222 of the Code of Virginia, relating to regulation of parking on secondary highways; Albemarle.

18101439D

S.B. 683 Commuter Rail Operating and Capital Fund; established.

Patron: Stuart

Commuter Rail Operating and Capital Fund. Establishes the Commuter Rail Operating and Capital Fund to be used by the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, with the approval of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, on projects that expand and improve commuter rail service.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-1604 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 16 of Title 33.2 a section numbered § 33.2-1605, relating to Commuter Rail Operating and Capital Fund.

18102474D

S.B. 686 Safety inspection approval stickers; vehicle equipment presumed compliant.

Patron: Deeds

Safety inspection approval stickers; vehicle equipment presumed compliant. Provides that a valid safety inspection approval sticker properly displayed on a vehicle gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that there are no defects in equipment subject to a safety inspection on such vehicle.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1163 of the Code of Virginia, relating to safety inspection approval stickers; vehicle equipment presumed compliant.

18100439D

S.B. 744 Safety belt systems; rear passengers; primary offense.

Patron: Barker

Safety belt systems; rear passengers; primary offense. Expands the requirement that any person at least 18 years of age use a safety belt system while a motor vehicle is in motion on a public highway from only occupants in the front seat to occupants in the front and rear passenger seats, defined in the bill. The bill makes any violation of the statute governing the required use of safety lap belts and shoulder harnesses a primary offense.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1094 of the Code of Virginia, relating to safety belt systems; rear passengers; primary offense.

18103251D

S.B. 792 Special license plates; Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Patron: Edwards

Special license plates; Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Provides that funds received by Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc., as a result of its special revenue-sharing license plate fees may be used to support the group's operation and programs. Current law requires that such funds be used only to clear the scenic overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway in order to promote tourism along the Parkway in Virginia.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 3 of Chapter 760 of the Acts of Assembly of 2011, relating to special license plates; Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

18104232D