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H.B. 23

             1     

HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen G. Handy

             5     
Senate Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      Committee Note:
             9          The Transportation Interim Committee recommended this bill.
             10      General Description:
             11          This bill modifies provisions relating to the eligibility of a clean fuel vehicle to operate
             12      in a high occupancy vehicle lane.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This bill:
             15          .    authorizes the Department of Transportation to limit the number of clean fuel
             16      vehicle decals issued to eligible applicants to meet the department's goals for
             17      operational management of the high occupancy vehicle lanes and comply with
             18      federal law or federal regulations;
             19          .    provides that a vehicle is only eligible for a clean fuel vehicle permit and a clean
             20      fuel vehicle decal if the vehicle is registered in the state of Utah; and
             21          .    makes technical changes.
             22      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          None
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          None
             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      AMENDS:


             28          41-6a-702, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 394
             29          72-6-121, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 394
             30     
             31      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             32          Section 1. Section 41-6a-702 is amended to read:
             33           41-6a-702. Left lane restrictions -- Exceptions -- Other lane restrictions --
             34      Penalties.
             35          (1) As used in this section and Section 41-6a-704 , "general purpose lane" means a
             36      highway lane open to vehicular traffic but does not include a designated:
             37          (a) high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane; or
             38          (b) auxiliary lane that begins as a freeway on-ramp and ends as part of the next freeway
             39      off-ramp.
             40          (2) On a freeway or section of a freeway which has three or more general purpose lanes
             41      in the same direction, a person may not operate a vehicle in the left most general purpose lane
             42      if the person's:
             43          (a) vehicle is drawing a trailer or semitrailer regardless of size; or
             44          (b) vehicle or combination of vehicles has a gross vehicle weight of 12,001 or more
             45      pounds.
             46          (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a person operating a vehicle who is:
             47          (a) preparing to turn left or taking a different highway split or an exit on the left;
             48          (b) responding to emergency conditions;
             49          (c) avoiding actual or potential traffic moving onto the highway from an acceleration or
             50      merging lane; or
             51          (d) following direction signs that direct use of a designated lane.
             52          (4) (a) A highway authority may designate a specific lane or lanes of travel for any type
             53      of vehicle on a highway or portion of a highway under its jurisdiction for the:
             54          (i) safety of the public;
             55          (ii) efficient maintenance of a highway; or
             56          (iii) use of high occupancy vehicles.
             57          (b) The lane designation under Subsection (4)(a) is effective when appropriate signs
             58      giving notice are erected on the highway or portion of the highway.


             59          (c) If a highway authority establishes an HOV lane, the highway authority shall
             60      annually report to the Transportation Interim Committee no later than November 30 of each
             61      year regarding:
             62          (i) the types of vehicles that may access the lane;
             63          (ii) where, when, and how a vehicle may access the lane;
             64          (iii) how a tax, fee, or charge is assessed for a vehicle carrying less than the number of
             65      persons specified for the lane;
             66          (iv) the usage of the HOV lane as compared to the usage of the general purpose lanes
             67      along the same stretch of highway; and
             68          (v) the compliance issues, safety risks, and impacts of the lane parameters described
             69      under Subsections (4)(c)(i), (ii), and (iii).
             70          [(5) (a) (i) Subject to Subsection (5)(b) and until June 30, 2011, the lane designation
             71      under Subsection (4)(a)(iii) shall allow a vehicle with clean fuel special group license plates
             72      issued in accordance with Section 41-1a-418 to travel in lanes designated for the use of high
             73      occupancy vehicles regardless of the number of occupants to the extent authorized or permitted
             74      by federal law or federal regulation.]
             75          [(ii)] (5) (a) Subject to Subsection (5)(b) and beginning on July 1, 2011, the lane
             76      designation under Subsection (4)(a)(iii) shall allow a vehicle with a clean fuel vehicle decal
             77      issued in accordance with Section 72-6-121 to travel in lanes designated for the use of high
             78      occupancy vehicles regardless of the number of occupants [to the extent authorized or] as
             79      permitted by federal law or federal regulation.
             80          (b) (i) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
             81      the Department of Transportation may make rules to allow a vehicle with a clean fuel vehicle
             82      decal to travel in lanes designated for the use of high occupancy vehicles regardless of the
             83      number of occupants [to the extent authorized or] as permitted by federal law or federal
             84      regulation.
             85          (ii) The rules made under Subsection (5)(b)(i) may limit the number of clean fuel
             86      vehicle decals issued in accordance with Section 72-6-121 to meet the Department of
             87      Transportation's goals for operational management of the lane designated under Subsection
             88      (4)(a)(iii).
             89          (6) A person who operates a vehicle in violation of Subsection (2) or in violation of the


             90      restrictions made under Subsection (4) is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
             91          Section 2. Section 72-6-121 is amended to read:
             92           72-6-121. Clean fuel vehicle decal.
             93          (1) Beginning on July 1, 2011, and subject to the requirements of this section, the
             94      department shall issue a clean fuel vehicle decal permit and a clean fuel vehicle decal to an
             95      applicant if:
             96          (a) the applicant is an owner of a vehicle:
             97          (i) powered by clean fuel that meets the standards established by the department in
             98      rules authorized under Subsection 41-6a-702 (5)(b); and
             99          (ii) that is registered in the state of Utah;
             100          (b) the applicant remits an application and all fees required under this section[.]; and
             101          (c) the department has clean-vehicle decals available subject to the limits established
             102      by the department in accordance with Subsection 41-6a-702 (5)(b).
             103          (2) The department shall establish the clean fuel vehicle decal design in consultation
             104      with the Utah Highway Patrol.
             105          (3) (a) An applicant for a clean fuel vehicle decal shall pay a clean fuel vehicle decal
             106      fee established by the department in accordance with Section 63J-1-504 .
             107          (b) Funds generated by the clean fuel vehicle decal fee may be used by the department
             108      to cover the costs incurred in issuing clean fuel vehicle decals under this section.
             109          (4) (a) The department shall issue a clean fuel vehicle decal permit and a clean fuel
             110      vehicle decal to a person who has been issued a clean fuel special group license plate prior to
             111      July 1, 2011.
             112          (b) A person who applies to the department to receive a clean fuel vehicle decal permit
             113      and a clean fuel vehicle decal under Subsection (4)(a) is not subject to the fee imposed under
             114      Subsection (3).
             115          (5) (a) An owner of a vehicle may not place a clean fuel vehicle decal on a vehicle
             116      other than the vehicle specified in the application for the clean fuel vehicle decal permit and the
             117      clean fuel vehicle decal.
             118          (b) A person operating a motor vehicle that has been issued a clean fuel vehicle decal
             119      shall:
             120          (i) have in the person's immediate possession the clean fuel vehicle decal permit issued


             121      by the department for the motor vehicle the person is operating; and
             122          (ii) display the permit upon demand of a peace officer.
             123          (6) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             124      department shall make rules to administer the clean fuel vehicle decal program authorized in
             125      this section.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 10-22-12 6:52 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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