Existing law provides for the exemption of authorized emergency vehicles from the payment of a toll or charge on a vehicular crossing, toll highway, or high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane when the authorized emergency vehicle is being driven under specified conditions, including, among others, the vehicle is displaying an exempt license plate and properly identified or marked as an authorized emergency vehicle, as specified. Existing law requires an owner or operator of a toll facility, upon the request of a private or public local emergency service provider, to enter into an agreement to establish mutually agreed-upon terms, including exemption from toll payment, for the use of the toll facility.

This bill would exempt a vehicle that is not displaying an exempt license plate if it is otherwise exempted from the above-described payment and is authorized as an emergency vehicle by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. The bill would exempt an owner or operator of a toll facility and a private or public local emergency service provider who have entered into an agreement for the use of the toll facility from those conditions.