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2020 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Transportation

Chair: David W. Marsden

Date of Meeting: January 23, 2020
Time and Place: 15 minutes after adjournment, Senate Room 3, Capitol
updated to add SB556 & SB557

S.B. 136

Patron: Stuart

Holding handheld personal communications devices while driving a motor vehicle. Prohibits any person from holding a handheld personal communications device while driving a motor vehicle. Current law prohibits (i) the reading of any email or text message and manually entering letters or text in such a device as a means of communicating and (ii) holding a personal communications device while driving in a work zone. The bill expands the exemptions to include handheld personal communications devices that are being held and used (a) as an amateur radio or a citizens band radio or (b) for official Department of Transportation or traffic incident management services. This bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to holding handheld personal communications devices while driving a motor vehicle.

20101412D

S.B. 160

Patron: Surovell

Holding handheld personal communications devices while driving a motor vehicle. Prohibits any person from holding a handheld personal communications device while driving a motor vehicle. Current law prohibits (i) the reading of any email or text message and manually entering letters or text in such a device as a means of communicating and (ii) holding a personal communications device while driving in a work zone. The bill expands the exemptions to include handheld personal communications devices that are being held and used (a) as an amateur radio or a citizens band radio or (b) for official Department of Transportation or traffic incident management services. This bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to holding handheld personal communications devices while driving a motor vehicle.

20100741D

S.B. 228

Patron: Spruill

Motorized skateboard or scooter; age requirement. Increases from 14 to 16 the age at which a person is permitted to operate a motorized skateboard or scooter without adult supervision.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-908.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to motorized skateboard or scooter; age requirement.

20101897D

S.B. 289

Patron: Deeds

Driver's license designation; traumatic brain injury. Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon the request of the applicant and presentation of a signed statement by a licensed physician confirming the applicant's condition, to designate a traumatic brain injury on the applicant's driver's license.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-342 of the Code of Virginia, relating to driver's license designation; traumatic brain injury.

20102650D

S.B. 328

Patron: Lucas

Overweight permits; forest products. Clarifies that the definition of forest products for the purpose of qualifying for an overweight permit for hauling forest products includes wood pellets.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1148.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to overweight permits; forest products; locations traveled.

20102682D

S.B. 356

Patron: Cosgrove

Aircraft; registration; definition. Requires an aircraft be registered in the Commonwealth if it is based in the Commonwealth for more than 90 days during a calendar year. Current law requires registration if the aircraft is based in the Commonwealth for more than 60 days during a 12-month period. The bill creates an exception to registration for aircraft that are in the Commonwealth solely for major repairs or maintenance. The bill also amends the definition of "aircraft" to clarify that aircraft means a contrivance designed for flight that is occupied by one or more persons.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 5.1-1, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, and 5.1-5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to aircraft; registration; definition.

20101049D

S.B. 417

Patron: Petersen

Use of certain revenues by Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Allows new sidewalk projects to be funded by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-2510 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of certain revenues by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for sidewalk projects.

20102674D

S.B. 473

Patron: Edwards

Duties of drivers of vehicles approaching stationary vehicles displaying certain warning lights; penalty. Makes a driver's failure to (i) move into a nonadjacent lane on a highway with at least four lanes when approaching a stationary towing vehicle or incident or traffic management vehicle displaying flashing, blinking, or alternating amber lights or (ii) proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed when passing such a vehicle reckless driving, which is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under current law, such offense is a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $250, and a failure to so move or proceed with due caution when approaching other such listed vehicles is reckless driving.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-861.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to duties of drivers of vehicles approaching stationary vehicles displaying certain warning lights; penalty.

20102436D

S.B. 556

Patron: Vogel

Speeding fines; doubled on certain roads in Fauquier County. Doubles the fines for speeding on U.S. Route 15 and U.S. Route 17 in Fauquier County.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-878.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to speeding fines; doubled on certain roads in Fauquier County.

20104605D

S.B. 557

Patron: Vogel

VDOT; electronic speed indicator signs; U.S. Route 17. Requires the Commissioner of Highways to place at least six permanent electronic speed indicator signs on U.S. Route 17 near particular intersections in Fauquier County.

A BILL to require the Commissioner of Highways to place permanent electronic speed indicator signs on U.S. Route 17.

20104606D

S.B. 562

Patron: Ruff

Rebuilt vehicles; issuance of title. Allows a title to be issued for a rebuilt vehicle without an inspection by the Department of Motor Vehicles if (i) the rebuilder has been licensed as an auto recycler, salvage pool, or vehicle removal operator in good standing for at least 10 years, (ii) the rebuilt vehicle is at least 10 years old but is not an antique motor vehicle, and (iii) the resale value of the rebuilt vehicle is less than $10,000.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1605 of the Code of Virginia, relating to rebuilt vehicles; issuance of title.

20103077D

S.B. 644

Patron: Boysko

Traffic incident management vehicles. Adds traffic incident management vehicles, defined in the bill, operated by persons who meet certain training requirements to a list of vehicles exempt from certain traffic regulations at or en route to the scene of a traffic accident or similar incident. The bill also allows such vehicles to be equipped with sirens and flashing red or red and white secondary warning lights.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-920, 46.2-1023, 46.2-1029.2, and 46.2-1030 of the Code of Virginia, relating to traffic incident management vehicles.

20102092D

S.B. 664

Patron: Surovell

Motor vehicle liability insurance coverage limits. Increases the minimum motor vehicle liability insurance coverage amounts from $25,000 to $100,000 in cases of bodily injury to or death of one person, from $50,000 to $200,000 in cases of bodily injury to or death of more than one person in any one accident, and from $20,000 to $40,000 for property damage coverage.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-419 and 46.2-472 of the Code of Virginia, relating to motor vehicle liability insurance coverage limits.

20100914D

S.B. 865

Patron: Favola

Aircraft; registration; definition. Requires an aircraft be registered in the Commonwealth if it is based in the Commonwealth for more than 90 days during a calendar year. Current law requires registration if the aircraft is based in the Commonwealth for more than 60 days during a 12-month period. The bill creates an exception to registration for aircraft that are in the Commonwealth solely for major repairs or maintenance. The bill also amends the definition of "aircraft" to clarify that aircraft means a contrivance designed for flight that is occupied by one or more persons.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 5.1-1, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, and 5.1-5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to aircraft; registration; definition.

20103785D

S.B. 871

Patron: Marsden

Electric power-assisted bicycles. Amends the definition of "electric power-assisted bicycle" to include three classes of such bicycles, based upon the type of motor and the maximum miles per hour that the motor is capable of propelling the bicycle. The bill also provides that electric power-assisted bicycles and operators are afforded the same rights and privileges as bicycles and operators and limits local and state regulation of the operation of such electric power-assisted bicycles to certain bicycle paths, shared-use paths, and trails. The bill requires manufacturers and distributors of electric power-assisted bicycles to include (i) on each electric power-assisted bicycle, a label indicating certain technical specifications and (ii) on each class three electric power-assisted bicycle, a miles-per-hour speedometer. The bill requires persons operating or riding on a class three electric power-assisted bicycle to wear a helmet.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-100 and 46.2-908.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-904.1, relating to electric power-assisted bicycles.

20102647D

S.B. 911

Patron: Hashmi

Parking of vehicles; electric vehicle charging spots; civil penalties. Prohibits a person from parking a vehicle not capable of receiving an electric charge in a space reserved for charging electric vehicles. A violation is subject to a civil penalty of $500, and the vehicle may be towed or impounded.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-1219.3, relating to parking of vehicles; electric vehicle charging spots; civil penalties.

20103753D

S.B. 916

Patron: Marsden

Towing fees. The bill raises from $25 to $30 the additional fee that can be charged for towing a vehicle at night, on weekends, or on a holiday. The bill requires localities in Planning District 8 and Planning District 16 to set such additional fee at between $25 and $30. Current law requires such localities to set such additional fee at $25.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-1233 and 46.2-1233.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to towing fees.

20104641D

S.B. 932

Patron: Kiggans

Use of handheld personal communications devices; school zones and school property; penalty. Adds school crossing zones and school property to the locations in which a driver is prohibited from holding a handheld personal communications device in his hand while driving a motor vehicle, with certain exceptions. The bill provides that a violation is punishable by a mandatory fine of $250. Current law prohibits (i) the reading of an email or text message on the device and manually entering letters or text in the device as a means of communicating and (ii) the holding of a handheld personal communication device in a highway work zone, with the same exceptions.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of handheld personal communications devices; school zones and school property; penalty.

20104574D

S.B. 944

Patron: Saslaw

Holding handheld personal communications devices while driving a motor vehicle. Prohibits any person from holding a handheld personal communications device while driving a motor vehicle. Current law prohibits (i) the reading of any email or text message and manually entering letters or text in such a device as a means of communicating and (ii) holding a personal communications device while driving in a work zone. The bill expands the exemptions to include handheld personal communications devices that are being held and used (a) as an amateur radio or a citizens band radio or (b) for official Department of Transportation or traffic incident management services. This bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to holding handheld personal communications devices while driving a motor vehicle.

20104384D

S.B. 968

Patron: Marsden

Maintenance and repair of relocated billboard signs. Provides that existing provisions related to the maintenance and repair of nonconforming billboard signs do not apply to relocated billboard signs.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-1230 of the Code of Virginia, relating to maintenance and repair of relocated billboard signs.

20104219D

S.B. 972

Patron: Edwards

Vehicle registration fees; Public Safety Trust Fund. Imposes an additional vehicle registration fee to be deposited into the Public Safety Trust Fund, established by the bill. The additional registration fee would be $1.25 per year beginning July 1, 2020, and would be increased over a period of 10 years to $12.50 per year. The revenues in the Public Safety Trust Fund would be used to address staffing, retention, and pay suppression issues at 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 and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-694.2, relating to vehicle registration fees; Public Safety Trust Fund.

20104768D

S.B. 995

Patron: Surovell

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; labor organizations. Repeals enactments adopted in 2018 as part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) funding bills related to bidders, offers, contractors, and subcontractors to WMATA projects located in the Commonwealth participating with labor organizations.

A BILL to repeal the fourteenth enactments of Chapters 854 and 856 of the Acts of Assembly of 2018, relating to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; labor organizations.

20105402D