AB 2594

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law requires the application for an original driver's license or renewal of a driver's license to contain specified information, including the applicant's name, age, gender category, mailing address, and residence address. Commencing January 1, 2027, this bill would require the application for an original driver's license or renewal of a driver's license to include a statement that the applicant may also need to change their address for purposes of their vehicle registration. Under existing law, a vehicle that enters into or upon a vehicular crossing immediately becomes liable for any tolls and other charges. Existing law requires an issuing agency, as defined, that permits pay-by-plate toll payment to communicate, as practicable, the pay-by-plate toll amount in the same manner as it communicates other toll payment methods. This bill, with respect to a toll bridge, would require an issuing agency that permits pay-by-plate toll payment or that permits payment by a transponder or other electronic toll payment device to send an invoice by mail for any unpaid toll to the registered vehicle owner. The bill would require the invoice to include a notice to the registered owner that, unless the registered owner pays the toll by the due date shown on the invoice, a toll evasion penalty will be assessed. The bill would require that if the toll charge is not paid within a specified amount of time, the nonpayment would be deemed an evasion of tolls and would require the issuing agency or processing agency to mail a notice of toll evasion violation to the registered owner, as specified. These provisions would become operative on July 1, 2024. This bill would require an issuing agency to allow a driver of a rental vehicle to register the rental vehicle to a transponder or other electronic toll payment device account with the issuing agency prior to traveling on the issuing agency's toll facility, for the purpose of paying all tolls, and would require a rental car agency to provide the customer with written or electronic notice regarding information about how to open an account or acquire a transponder for use of each issuing agency's toll facility. These provisions would become operative on July 1, 2024. This bill would require an issuing agency that operates an electronic toll collection system that permits payment by a transponder or other electronic toll payment device to make the transponder or other electronic toll payment device available for acquisition online, by mail, and in person at retail outlets and at the issuing agency or processing agency office, as specified. The bill would prohibit the price of the transponder or other electronic toll payment device from exceeding the reasonable cost to procure and distribute the device. The bill would require the issuing agency's office to be open to the public during specified hours to allow a person to conduct specified transactions, including acquiring a transponder or other electronic toll payment device or paying a toll invoice. The bill would also require the issuing agency to maintain a customer service telephone line during specified hours. These provisions would become operative on July 1, 2024. Existing law authorizes a person, within the later of 21 days from the issuance of a notice of toll evasion violation or 15 days from the mailing of the notice delinquent toll evasion, to contest the notice of toll evasion violation or notice of delinquent toll evasion. Existing law requires the processing agency to investigate, or to request the issuing agency to investigate, the circumstances of the notice with respect to the contestant's reasons for contesting the toll evasion violation. This bill would extend the applicable number of days from the mailing of the notice of delinquent toll evasion to 30 days, and would specify that the contestant is not required to deposit the outstanding penalty. The bill would require the processing agency or issuing agency, at a minimum, to review the evidence on which the alleged violation was based, as specified. The bill would require the issuing agency to waive toll evasion penalties for a first violation with the issuing agency under designated circumstances. These provisions would become operative on July 1, 2024. Existing law requires a notice of delinquent toll evasion violation to include a notice to the registered owner that renewal of the vehicle registration will be contingent upon compliance with the notice, unless the registered owner pays the penalty within 15 days after mailing of the notice, or takes other specified actions. This bill would revise the notice requirements to apply when the toll evasion penalty has not been paid within 30 days after the notice of delinquent toll evasion violation has been mailed, and makes renewal of the person's vehicle registration contingent on compliance with the notice of delinquent toll evasion violation. The bill would require the department to refuse renewal of a person's vehicle registration if notified electronically by the issuing agency or processing agency that the registered owner has failed to pay the toll, toll evasion penalty, and related fees within the designated time period, or is delinquent under a payment plan for more than 10 business days, as prescribed. This bill would establish maximum toll evasion violation penalty amounts for toll bridge violations and toll highway, toll road, and express lane violations, as prescribed. These provisions would become operative on July 1, 2024. This bill would require an issuing agency to establish a payment plan option, as specified, applicable to all outstanding toll evasion penalties. The bill would require the issuing agency to post information regarding the payment plan policy on its internet website. The bill would require these provisions to be operative on July 1, 2023, for toll bridges. With respect to toll highways, toll roads, and express lanes, the bill would require the provisions to be operative on July 1, 2024. This bill, commencing July 1, 2023, would establish a one-time waiver program for outstanding toll evasion penalties for toll evasion violations on a toll bridge occurring from March 20, 2020 to January 1, 2023, inclusive. The bill would make the waiver program available, upon request, to individuals who meet specified income eligibility criteria and satisfy other requirements, including payment of the total amount of all outstanding tolls subject to the penalty waiver, as specified. The bill would require issuing agencies, processing agencies, or their designees to take specified actions to inform the public about the one-time waiver program, commencing January 1, 2023. This bill would make the waiver program provisions inoperative on September 30, 2024, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2025. By imposing new duties on local government issuing agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.