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2016 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Transportation

Chairman: Charles W. Carrico, Sr.

Clerk: John Garrett
Staff: Nicole Brenner
Date of Meeting: January 20, 2016
Time and Place: 45 mins after adjournment / Senate Room A
Room correction

S.B. 16 Passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons.

Patron: Favola

Passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons. Provides that a locality that has authorized by ordinance the installation and operation of a video-monitoring system on school buses for recording violations of unlawfully passing a stopped school bus may execute a summons for such violation by mailing a copy of the summons to the owner of a vehicle that unlawfully passed a stopped school bus.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-844 of the Code of Virginia, relating to passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons.

16101000D

S.B. 25 General illumination lights; motorcycles.

Patron: Reeves

General illumination lights; motorcycles. Increases from four to five the maximum number of lights allowed on a motorcycle and used for general illumination ahead of the motorcycle. Current law restricts all motor vehicles to no more than four lights, including headlights, fog lights, etc., to provide general illumination ahead of the vehicle.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1030 of the Code of Virginia, relating to general illumination lights on motorcycles.

16100310D

S.B. 35 Vehicle registration fees; funds allocated to Department of State Police.

Patron: Carrico

Vehicle registration fees; funds for Department of State Police. Raises the vehicle registration fee an additional $1.25 per year on each July 1 from 2016 through 2025 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.

16100611D

S.B. 45 License plate, special; removes prohibition of a logo, etc., of Sons of Confederate Veterans plates.

Patron: Carrico

Sons of Confederate Veterans special license plates. Removes the prohibition of a logo or emblem on the design of the Sons of Confederate Veterans special license plates.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-746.22 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Sons of Confederate Veterans special license plates; logo or emblem on plate design.

16100614D

S.B. 46 Commonwealth Space Flight Fund; extends transfer of funds through fiscal year 2020-2021.

Patron: Carrico

Commonwealth Space Flight Fund; transfer of funds. Extends through fiscal year 2020-2021 the annual transfer of $9.5 million from the Transportation Trust Fund to the Commonwealth Space Flight Fund. Under current law, the transfer would cease in fiscal year 2016-2017.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-1526 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Commonwealth Space Flight Fund; transfer of funds.

16102284D

S.B. 74 Passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons.

Patron: Wexton

Passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons. Provides that a locality that has authorized by ordinance the installation and operation of a video-monitoring system on school buses for recording violations of unlawfully passing a stopped school bus may execute a summons for such violation by mailing a copy of the summons to the owner of a vehicle that unlawfully passed a stopped school bus.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-844 of the Code of Virginia, relating to passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons.

16101692D

S.B. 91 Emergency medical services agencies; registration of vehicles owned or used by agencies.

Patron: Marsden

Registration of vehicles owned or used by emergency medical services agencies. Requires, upon application, the issuance of permanent license plates for emergency medical services vehicles owned by or under the exclusive control of a commercial or privately owned emergency medical services agency.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-649.1:1 and 46.2-711 of the Code of Virginia, relating to license plates for emergency vehicles.

16102083D

S.B. 107 Designating the Trooper Nathan-Michael W. Smith Memorial Bridge.

Patron: Dance

Designating the Trooper Nathan-Michael W. Smith Memorial Bridge. Designates the Route 301 bridge in Prince George County at Exit 45 over Interstate 95 the Trooper Nathan-Michael W. Smith Memorial Bridge.

A BILL to designate the Route 301 bridge in Prince George County the "Trooper Nathan-Michael W. Smith Memorial Bridge."

16101479D

S.B. 112 NVTA; use of certain funds for sidewalk projects.

Patron: Petersen

Use of certain revenues by NVTA. 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.

16100882D

S.B. 117 Motor vehicle doors; drivers and passengers to wait for a reasonable opportunity to open.

Patron: Petersen

Opening and closing motor vehicle doors. Requires drivers and passengers to wait for a reasonable opportunity to open vehicle doors on the side adjacent to moving traffic. A violation constitutes a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $100.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-818.1, relating to opening of motor vehicle doors.

16100874D

S.B. 120 Passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons.

Patron: Carrico

Passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons; rebutting presumption. Provides that a locality that has authorized by ordinance the installation and operation of a video-monitoring system on school buses for recording violations of unlawfully passing a stopped school bus may execute a summons for such violation by mailing a copy of the summons to the owner of a vehicle that unlawfully passed a stopped school bus. The bill also provides a means by which the existing presumption that the registered owner of the vehicle was the vehicle operator at the time of the violation can be rebutted and requires that this information be included with the mailing of the summons. The bill gives the summoned person 30 business days from the mailing of the summons to inspect information collected by a video-monitoring system in connection with the violation.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-844 of the Code of Virginia, relating to passing stopped school buses; mailing of summons; rebutting presumption.

16101720D

S.B. 121 Senator George M. Warren Memorial Bridge; designating as Route 670 bridge in Washington County.

Patron: Carrico

Designating the Senator George M. Warren Memorial Bridge. Designates the Route 670 bridge in Washington County the "Senator George M. Warren Memorial Bridge."

A BILL to designate the Route 670 bridge in Washington County the "Senator George M. Warren Memorial Bridge."

16100619D

S.B. 141 Tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators; complaints by consumers.

Patron: Edwards

Tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators; complaints by consumers. Removes motor carriers from the definition of consumers with regard to complaints against tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators. The bill effectively removes the ability of motor carriers to file complaints against tow truck drivers or towing and recovery operators with the Attorney General's Division of Consumer Counsel.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-116 of the Code of Virginia, relating to motor carriers not consumers and complaints against tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators.

16101878D

S.B. 163 Driving in flooded areas; localities may by ordinance prohibit, exception.

Patron: Locke

Local regulation of driving in flooded areas; penalty. Allows localities to by ordinance prohibit driving in a flooded street in a way that damages property and creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for a violation of such ordinance. This prohibition does not apply to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, or operators of Department of Transportation vehicles in the performance of their official duties.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-800.3, relating to local regulation driving in flooded areas; no wake.

16101342D

S.B. 195 Bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, etc.; requirement of red rear lights.

Patron: Alexander

Lights on bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds. Requires bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds operated between sunset and sunrise to have a red light visible from at least 500 feet to the rear. Current law requires such vehicles, except bicycles, to have a red reflector visible from 600 feet to the rear and requires bicycles to have a rear taillight emitting a red light visible from at least 500 feet between sunsetand sunrise when operated on a highway with a speed limit of 35 mph or greater. A violation of this provision is punishable as a traffic infraction.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1015 of the Code of Virginia, relating to rear lights on bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds.

16102256D

S.B. 197 Interstate 73 Corridor Development Fund and Program; reallocates and transfers certain funds.

Patron: Stanley

Interstate 73 Corridor Development Fund and Program. Reallocates and transfers the U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Fund and Program to Interstate 73 effective either July 1, 2020, or upon completion of the U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Program, whichever occurs sooner. Currently, $40 million is allocated annually to the Route 58 project.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 33.2-1700, 33.2-1701, 33.2-1709, 33.2-2300, and 33.2-2301 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Interstate 73 Corridor Development Fund and Program.

16100384D

S.B. 234 Interstate 66; tolls on existing components east of mile marker 67 prohibited.

Patron: Petersen

Tolling on Interstate 66. Prohibits tolls on existing components of Interstate 66 east of mile marker 67. The bill provides that if additional lanes are added after January 1, 2017, toll revenues from use of the additional lanes shall be used only for the construction and maintenance of such additional lanes.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-309 of the Code of Virginia, relating to tolls on Interstate 66.

16100868D

S.B. 257 HOV and HOT lanes; penalties, increased fines for subsequent offenses.

Patron: Surovell

HOV and HOT lane penalties; increased fines for subsequent offenses. Provides that increased fines for subsequent violations of the high-occupancy requirement on HOV and for driving an unauthorized vehicle on the HOT lanes shall be imposed only after conviction of the prior offense.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 33.2-501 and 33.2-503 of the Code of Virginia, relating to HOV and HOT lanes enforcement; penalty.

16100158D

S.B. 295 Toll violations at all-electronic toll facilities; administrative fees and period of nonpayment.

Patron: Lucas

Toll violations at all-electronic toll facilities; administrative fees and period of nonpayment. Lowers the administrative fee that is paid after 30 days of nonpayment of an unpaid toll from $100 to $50 and lengthens such period of nonpayment from 30 days to 60 days. The time period for notice to contest liability for a toll violation is extended from 60 to 90 days. The time period to file an affidavit stating that the owner of the vehicle was not the operator of the vehicle during the unpaid toll violation is extended from 14 to 30 days.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-819.3:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to all-electronic toll facilities; administrative fees for toll violations and period of nonpayment.

16102028D

S.B. 299 Amber lights, flashing; allows publicly owned or operated transit buses to use.

Patron: Ebbin

Amber lights on public transit buses. Allows publicly owned or operated transit buses to use flashing amber lights.

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

16100712D

S.B. 334 Toll violations at all-electronic toll facilities; administrative fees and period of nonpayment.

Patron: Locke

Toll violations at all-electronic toll facilities; administrative fees and period of nonpayment. Lowers the administrative fee that is paid after 30 days of nonpayment of an unpaid toll from $100 to $50 and lengthens such period of nonpayment from 30 days to 60 days. The time period for notice to contest liability for a toll violation is extended from 60 to 90 days. The time period to file an affidavit stating that the owner of the vehicle was not the operator of the vehicle during the unpaid toll violation is extended from 14 to 30 days.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-819.3:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to all-electronic toll facilities; administrative fees for toll violations and period of nonpayment.

16102119D

S.B. 365 Prioritization of statewide transportation projects; exceptions.

Patron: Chafin

Prioritization of statewide transportation projects; exceptions. Provides that projects on U.S. Route 460 and U.S. Route 121 are not subject to the prioritization process that the Commonwealth Transportation Board applies to projects eligible for state funding.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-214.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to prioritization of statewide transportation projects; exceptions.

16102524D

S.B. 375 Pickup or panel trucks; amends definitions.

Patron: Ruff

Pickup or panel truck; definitions. Amends the definitions of "pickup or panel truck" and "truck" for purposes of Title 46.2 so that pickup or panel trucks registered for personal use and with a gross weight in excess of 7,500 pounds but not in excess of 10,000 pounds are not registered as trucks.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-100 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pickup or panel trucks registered for personal use.

16103647D

S.B. 379 Speed limits; fines doubled for speeding on certain highways.

Patron: Vogel

Maximum speed limits; fines doubled. Allows a county to provide by ordinance that fines for speeding on a nonlimited access highway having four or more lanes in such county are doubled.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-870 of the Code of Virginia, relating to maximum speed limits; fines doubled.

16103692D

S.B. 387 Regulation of towing.

Patron: Surovell

Regulation of towing. Bans the use of spotters by tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators and requires the authorization or presence of the owner of the property from which a trespassing vehicle is being towed; the use of spotters and towing without such authorization are included as acts for which a consumer can file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Counsel at the Office of the Attorney General. The bill also includes as violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act prohibited acts by tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators, violations of police towing, and violations of local ordinances regulating police towing, price, and trespass towing.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-118, 46.2-1232, and 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the regulation of tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators.

16102724D

S.B. 405 Tolling additional capacity and designations of HOV and HOT lanes on Interstate 66.

Patron: Vogel

Tolling additional capacity and designations of HOV and HOT lanes on Interstate 66. Prohibits tolls on any component of Interstate 66 outside the Capital Beltway existing prior to July 1, 2016. The bill provides that if additional lanes are added to an interstate highway, those additional lanes may be tolled. The bill prohibits HOV-2 lanes of Interstate 66 from being converted to HOV-3 lanes or a more restrictive designation and prohibits a HOT lane occupancy requirement of more than two. The bill allows vehicles bearing clean special fuel vehicle license plates to use HOT lanes; such vehicles may currently use HOV lanes. The bill contains a technical amendment.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 33.2-309, 33.2-501, 33.2-502, and 46.2-749.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to tolls for use of additional lane capacity and designation of HOV and HOT lanes on Interstate 66.

16103688D

S.B. 413 Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

Patron: Barker

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Provides that the population criterion required for decisions of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority shall be the estimates, not the projections, made by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia and provides that the population estimates shall be adjusted once the estimates are available for July 1 of the fifth year after the decennial census. Under current law the population estimates are adjusted on July 1 of the fifth year, which requires them to use the previous year's data.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-2504 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of population estimates in connection with decisions of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

16102469D

S.B. 431 High-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes; unpaid tolls and civil penalties.

Patron: Ebbin

HOT lane toll violations; penalties. Lengthens the time period to pay an unpaid toll from 30 to 45 days before the administrative fee is increased. The bill decreases the civil penalties for an unpaid toll, making them equal to civil penalties for other toll violations, and makes subsequent increased civil penalties applicable only after conviction of a prior offense and allows for consideration of extenuating circumstances. The bill also places a cap on civil penalties and administrative fees of $2,200 for a driver or owner's first court appearance for unpaid tolls and requires an annual report by the Department of Transportation on toll violations, penalties, and fees to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Transportation Committees.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-503 of the Code of Virginia, relating to unpaid tolls and civil penalties on HOT lanes.

16102120D

S.B. 434 License plates, special; PROTECT POLLINATORS changes to revenue sharing.

Patron: Barker

Special license plates; PROTECT POLLINATORS. Changes the special license plates for Protect Pollinators from nonrevenue sharing to revenue sharing and provides for the moneys to be allocated to the Virginia Department of Transportation to aid in the Pollinator Habitat Program.

A BILL to amend and reenact Chapter 690 of the Acts of Assembly of 2014, relating to special license plates for supporters of pollinator conservation bearing the legend: PROTECT POLLINATORS.

16103895D

S.B. 448 Designating the Trooper H. Lee Henderson Memorial Bridge.

Patron: Obenshain

Designating the Trooper H. Lee Henderson Memorial Bridge. Designates the Interstate 66 bridge in Warren County the "Trooper H. Lee Henderson Memorial Bridge."

A BILL to designate the Interstate 66 bridge in Warren County the “Trooper H. Lee Henderson Memorial Bridge.”

16101763D

S.B. 464 Gas-powered low-speed vehicles.

Patron: Carrico

Gas-powered low-speed vehicles. Includes gas-powered vehicles that have a maximum speed of greater than 20 miles per hour but less than 25 miles per hour and are manufactured to comply with safety standards contained in Title 49 of the C.F.R. § 571.500 as low-speed vehicles. The current definition of "low-speed vehicle" only includes electrically powered vehicles.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-100 of the Code of Virginia, relating to gas-powered low-speed vehicles.

16102297D

S.B. 473 Flashing, blinking, or alternating amber lights on amateur radio vehicles.

Patron: Wagner

Flashing, blinking, or alternating amber lights on amateur radio vehicles. Allows vehicles used or operated by federally licensed amateur radio operators to use flashing, blinking, or alternating amber lights (i) while participating in emergency communications or drills on behalf of federal, state, or local authorities or (ii) to provide communications services to localities in the Commonwealth for public service events including marathons, foot races, or activities authorized by the Department of Transportation or the locality in which the event is being conducted.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1025 of the Code of Virginia, relating to flashing, blinking, or alternating amber warning lights on vehicles used by amateur radio operators.

16102181D

S.B. 514 Department of Transportation; transponder fees or exchange.

Patron: McPike

Department of Transportation; transponder fees or exchange. Prohibits the Department of Transportation from charging fees for or requiring users to exchange their E-ZPass flex transponder as a result of inactivity.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 2 of Title 33.2 a section numbered 33.2-280.1, relating to Department of Transportation; transponder fees or exchange.

16101815D

S.B. 516 Tolling on interstate highways.

Patron: McPike

Tolling on interstate highways. Prohibits tolls on any component of interstate highways existing prior to July 1, 2016. The bill provides that if additional lanes are added to an interstate highway, those additional lanes may be tolled. The bill contains a technical amendment.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-309 of the Code of Virginia, relating to tolls for use of additional lane capacity on interstate highways.

16101817D

S.B. 572 Improper driving; jury.

Patron: Surovell

Improper driving; jury. Provides that a jury hearing a case involving a person charged with reckless driving where the accused's degree of culpability is slight may find the accused not guilty of reckless driving but guilty of improper driving, which is punishable as a traffic infraction. Currently, only the court hearing the case may find the accused guilty of improper driving.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-869 of the Code of Virginia, relating to improper driving; jury.

16102005D

S.B. 605 Reckless driving causing death or injury of certain persons; penalties.

Patron: Edwards

Reckless driving causing death or injury of certain persons; penalties. Punishes reckless driving or a violation of the "move-over" law that causes death or permanent and significant physical impairment by striking a law-enforcement officer, emergency medical services personnel, highway worker, firefighter, or a DMV size and weight compliance agent who was not in a vehicle and on a public roadway or work zone engaged in his duties as a Class 5 felony with a $2,500 mandatory minimum fine. The bill further requires the court to suspend the offender's driver's license for one year. In addition, the court may impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 and the proceeds shall be deposited into the general fund.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-867.1, relating to reckless driving resulting in death or injury to certain persons; penalties.

16103490D

S.B. 613 Driver's license; marijuana possession.

Patron: Garrett

Driver's license; marijuana possession. Revises the existing provision that a person loses his driver's license for six months when convicted of or placed on deferred disposition for a drug offense to provide that the provision does not apply to simple possession of marijuana. The exception applies only to adults; juveniles will still be subject to license suspension. The provisions of the bill are contingent upon the Governor's certifying, in accordance with federal law, to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation that the Governor is opposed and that the General Assembly has adopted a resolution stating its opposition to a law requiring a six-month driver's license suspension or revocation upon a person's conviction for a drug offense and written assurance from the U.S. Department of Transportation that Virginia will not lose any federal funds as a result of implementation of the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-251, 18.2-259.1, and 46.2-390.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to marijuana offenses; driver's license forfeiture.

16103414D